PHOTOS: DRC Army Takes Towns in ADF Stronghold

Congolese troops have retaken key operational areas and bases of the Ugandan rebel movement, Allied Democratic Forces (ADF).

The army said in a brief note to the media that it had captured Kididiwe, Masulukwede, Vemba, Kadou and P46 in North Kivu near the Ugandan border.

Kididiwe which bout 20km from the city of Beni, Eastern DRC. Beni is about 140kms from Ugandan border town of Kasese.

The liberation of Kididiwe is a big success for the Congolese army considering that a joint military operation with UN force, MONUSCO in 2018 did not bear fruit.

Several soldiers were felled while UN peacekeepers sustained serious injuries in deadly gun battles with ADF.

Kididiwe was seen as a major stronghold of the ADF which the militants used to plan attacks in different parts of Beni.

However, the Congolese army this week raised the national flag in Kididiwe.

“The Congolese flag is flying again in the village of Kididiwe, a stronghold of the ADF rebels who have been hunted down and defeated by the FARDC,” the army said in a note seen by ChimpReports on Saturday.

A Congolese soldier listens to communication on his handset

The army earlier this week said it had so far killed 25 rebels. 7 Congolese soldiers have died in combat operations against the rebels.

DRC recently announced a massive military operation against ADF rebels hiding in North Kivu.

The militants are accused of committing atrocities against civilians in Beni and surrounding areas.

The army said it would conduct the operation against the militants without external help.

The rebels’ supreme leader, Jamil Mukulu, is jailed at Luzira prison on charges of treason.

DRC President Felix Tshisekedi last weekend met with his Ugandan counterpart, Yoweri Museveni in Kampala where they agreed to jointly address the threat of armed movements.