BREAKING: CDF Gen Muhoozi, Tshisekedi Ink MoU To Extend Operation Shujaa Mandate

Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have formally extended their military cooperation against the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) following the signing of a renewed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) under Operation Shujaa.

The agreement was reached during a high-level bilateral meeting in Kinshasa, where Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, led a military delegation and held extensive discussions with Congolese authorities. The delegation was warmly received by DRC President H.E. Félix Tshisekedi and his counterpart, the Commander of FARDC, Lt. General Jules Banza Mwilambwe.

“I want to thank H.E. Félix Tshisekedi and my counterpart in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Lt. General Jules Banza Mwilambwe, for the excellent way our delegation was received in Kinshasa,” General Muhoozi posted on X on Sunday following his trip to Kinshasa.

He added, “I congratulate the people of both Uganda and DRC on the extension of the MOU on the joint operation (Operation Shujaa) between UPDF and FARDC on combating the terrorists of ADF in North Kivu and Ituri.”

Operation Shujaa, launched in 2021, is a joint military campaign between the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) and the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC), aimed at neutralizing the ADF insurgents who have long destabilized the eastern provinces of North Kivu and Ituri.

The extension of the MoU indicates continued resolve from both Kampala and Kinshasa to eliminate the extremist group, which has been linked to multiple cross-border attacks, mass killings, and regional insecurity.

The development comes amid broader regional efforts under the East African Community (EAC) and AU security architecture to stabilize the Great Lakes region through multilateral security arrangements and cross-border cooperation.

This latest move cements the deepening military and diplomatic ties between Uganda and DRC and highlights a shared commitment to peace, stability, and counterterrorism.

The army chief was accompanied by a host of military heads including the Commander of Land Forces, General Kayanja Muhanga.