DR WAR: Mosque, Solar Panels Found in ADF Territory; Commanders Still at Large

The DRC troops have discovered a Mosque in the territory previously held by Ugandan rebel group Allied Democratic Forces (ADF).

“In Mapubu 3, we found a mosque, clinic, Koranic school and a training camp,” said Sokola 1 operations spokesperson, Major Mak Hazukay.

The DRC army has for the last fortnight been using fighter jets, long-range artillery and infantry units to attack ADF bases in North Kivu near the Ugandan border.

The discovery of the mosque underscores the Islamic fundamentalism of the rebel Movement formed in the 1990s to topple President Museveni.

Recent reports suggest that the ADF is attempting to forge ties to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). Its flag incorporates a new name, Madina at Tauheed Wau Mujahedeen (“City of Monotheism and Holy Warriors”).

Documents and videos seized during MONUSCO operations suggest that it is currently focusing on establishing a caliphate in the region.

The movement in recent years has also vigorously enforced strict Islamic law in its strongholds in the DRC and sought to radicalize and increase its recruitment of Congolese Muslims.

The growing prominence of ISIS-inspired narratives in ADF propaganda videos coincide with efforts by the ADF to return to its Salafi roots so that it could exploit Jihadi-Salafi networks in East Africa.

Hazukay told journalists on Monday that new fighters and recruits were received from Mapubu camp.

He said it’s here that prayers and high level planning meetings by the rebel leaders were held.

The DRC army also recovered two solar panels, over 20 cans of cooking oil and pharmaceuticals to treat casualties and the sick.

According to Centre for Strategic Studies, the number of violent events linked to ADF tripled in 2018, to 132 from 38 in 2017.

Fatalities doubled to 415 over the same period.

This includes the killing of peacekeepers from the United Nations Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO), as well as civilians along the DRC/Uganda border.

In all, the deaths of 700 civilians have been attributed to the ADF since 2014.

Leaders still at large

Despite the increased bombardments of ADF’s territory, the DRC army is yet to kill or arrest the leaders of the movement who are said to be hiding in North Kivu.

ADF combatants have previously regrouped after such military strikes.

At least 25 rebels have so far been killed in the recent attacks. The rebels have also retaliated by slaughtering 45 innocent civilians.

The DRC army said the killing of civilians in Beni territory were a “final desperate move of the besieged ADF.”

An offshoot of the Ugandan Tabliq/Salafi movement from the mid-1990s, it has been based for most of its existence in the DRC, where it became deeply embedded in local sociopolitical dynamics and conflicts.