DR Congo's and Uganda's Forgotten War On Violent Islamism
DR Congo's and Uganda's Forgotten War On Violent Islamism
Against the Allied Democratic Forces, which are active across their borders, the two neighbours in Central Africa joined forces under an operation code-named Shujaa.
By Ignatius Bahizi
It is a militant organisation which is not like most of the tribal warring factions that have plagued Central Africa for decades. And that is because of what they are fighting for. So, what’s there to know about it?
Well, the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) operates mainly in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo and western Uganda. It lacks the global notorious reputation of the Lord's Resistance Army, but it is almost as old.
As it were, the organisation was formed in the late 1990s, the result of a fusion between several Ugandan rebel factions.
In fact, it can be traced back to the Ugandan civil war of the 1980s; the leaders of the ADF are veterans of that civil war.
But away from its beginnings in the 1980s, the Allied Democratic Forces are today a far different beast.
An Islamist Organisation
Over the years, the ADF has gone under a change, and along with it, its ideology has evolved. Today, it is generally considered to be an Islamist organisation. Why?
It has claimed affiliation with the Islamic State, adopting some of its tactics and rhetoric. More important, the stated goals of the ADF include the establishment of an Islamic state in the region straddling the DRC-Uganda border.
It certainly vows to overthrow the Ugandan government, a response to perceived discrimination against Muslims in Uganda.
No wonder it has been designated a terrorist organisation by the United States and the United Nations.
In its stated Jihad, the ADF has been responsible for many attacks on civilians, government forces, and UN peacekeepers in both Uganda and the DRC.
These attacks have included massacres, kidnappings, and the use of improvised explosive devices.
Defeating the organisation became a matter of national survival for Uganda and the DRC. And it has now been nearly three years since the two countries decided to take the fight to the ADF.
Operation Shujaa
“The joint forces have restored peace to numerous villages, enabling internally displaced persons (IDPs) to return home. Access to farmlands, previously restricted due to ADF attacks and kidnappings, has been reopened.”
In the wake of the Pandemic, the Uganda People’s Defense Forces (UPDF) and the Congolese National Forces (FARDC) teamed up to launch a joint military effort against the ADF—Operation Shujaa.
The primary goal, obviously, has been to eliminate the militant group. But three years later, what result do they have to show?
Well, since the operation's inception, the UPDF has reported the successful rescue of over 100 captives, marking a significant milestone in their efforts.
Among those rescued are children under the age of five, born to civilian mothers from the DRC who had been taken captive by ADF fighters and forced into marriages with ADF commanders.
In January of this year, the UPDF rescued a group of 22 young men, women, and children from the dense forests of the Ituri province.
After their rescue, they were brought to Uganda for rehabilitation, where they underwent training in various life skills. Last month, these individuals were returned to the Congolese government to be reintegrated into their families.
According to UPDF spokesperson Brig. Gen. Felix Kulaijye, Operation Shujaa has achieved several other successes in liberating areas formerly under ADF control.
The joint forces have restored peace to numerous villages, enabling internally displaced persons (IDPs) to return home. Access to farmlands, previously restricted due to ADF attacks and kidnappings, has been reopened.
Schools have resumed operations, allowing children to continue their education, and prayer centres that had closed due to the conflict are now functioning again.
Despite these successes, the ADF remains a formidable threat, continuing to inflict violence on Congolese civilians.
Operational Roadblocks
“When we see the Ugandan Army, we clap for them. But when we see MONUSCO, we throw stones at them, unless the [Ugandans] leaves under the cover of darkness, citizens will block the roads to prevent their departure.”
—Kasereka Antoni, a Congolese local
Recent reports indicate that ADF attacks have resulted in hundreds of casualties, particularly in villages near Beni and Oicha towns.
Residents have expressed increasing fear as the group becomes more lethal, with each attack resulting in significant loss of life. The ADF has also been known to disguise themselves as local Mai Mai fighters, complicating efforts to distinguish them from other groups.
The UPDF has confirmed these attacks but notes that they occur in areas where they are not currently authorised to operate.
Brig. Gen. Kulaijye has emphasised the necessity of expanding their operational bases to better counter ADF attacks in these regions.
However, such expansion is contingent on the recommendations of the heads of State.
Despite possible frictions, many Congolese residents, particularly in Beni, believe that the UPDF should not withdraw until the ADF is fully eradicated.
One resident explained that while the United Nations Stabilization Force (MONUSCO) has been present for many years without achieving lasting peace, the arrival of Ugandan troops has significantly reduced ADF attacks and restored relative calm to the region.
For instance, the main road from Beni to the Ugandan border at Kasindi/Mpondwe, once notorious for ADF ambushes, has been secured, allowing business to resume.
"When we see the Ugandan Army, we clap for them," Kasereka Antoni, a local, told the African Gazette. "But when we see MONUSCO, we throw stones at them, unless the UPDF leaves under the cover of darkness; otherwise, citizens will block the roads to prevent their departure."
Formidable Foe
While Operation Shujaa has had its successes, it has also faced challenges. On several occasions, ADF fighters have crossed the operational line into Uganda, carrying out deadly attacks.
The UPDF reports that most of these groups have been neutralised, with many commanders and fighters killed inside the DRC.
For example, a commander known as Njovu, who led an attack on Uganda, was captured last year after some of his fighters were killed.
Njovu, who is accused of orchestrating an attack on tourists in Queen Elizabeth National Park, is currently detained in Kampala and is being prosecuted.
Other attacks attributed to the ADF occurred in Uganda, particularly in districts bordering the DRC, resulting in dozens of deaths.
The UPDF has noted that the ADF has splintered into smaller groups of four to five fighters who evade the battlefield to attack vulnerable areas. These attacks are believed to be attempts to divert attention from Operation Shujaa.
Although the Operation Shujaa has been ongoing on for nearly three years, there is still no clear deadline for its conclusion. But officials are clear that it has been worth the efforts.
In July, While receiving 22 former ADF captives who had undergone life skills training and rehabilitation in Uganda, FARDC’s Col. Desire Chibi Chabere said that the rescue of civilians are among the major successes of the joint operation.
He reaffirmed the commitment of the two countries to continue the fight until the ADF is defeated, and until peace is fully restored in Ituri.
However, there have been accusations that some Congolese Army officers have collaborated with the ADF, providing them with ammunition and operational information. In response, some officers have been recalled to Kinshasa for questioning.
Additionally, the ADF is said to have close working relationships with different Mai Mai local ethnic vigilante groups, under the command of various warlords, who reportedly fight alongside the ADF.
Operation Shujaa can sure boast of its successes, but poor ethics and discipline in the rank and file has been a crack in its armour, and that needs to be addressed firmly, going forwards.