President Felix Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has issued directives to bolster military cooperation with Uganda in a renewed effort to eradicate insecurity in the Ituri region. This move follows a high-level meeting between President Tshisekedi and a Ugandan delegation led by Lt. General Kayanja Muhanga, the Commander of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) Land Forces, on October 13, 2024. The delegation was accompanied by the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the DRC (FARDC), General Christian Tshiwewe.
The discussions centered around the progress of Operation Shujaa, a joint military initiative between the UPDF and FARDC aimed at neutralizing the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) rebels in eastern DRC. The ADF, a notorious rebel group, has been responsible for decades of violence, including attacks on civilians and security forces in the region.
During the meeting, President Tshisekedi praised the efforts of both armies in pushing back the ADF but emphasized the need for intensified military action to completely restore peace and stability in Ituri and neighboring regions. He instructed military commanders to enhance coordination and operational planning to accelerate the defeat of the insurgent group, which has been destabilizing the border areas between Uganda and DRC.
“The eradication of the ADF rebels is critical to ensuring long-term security for our people. We must work in unison with Uganda to bring an end to this insurgency,” President Tshisekedi stated.
The UPDF has been actively deployed in Congo under Operation Shujaa since November 2021, targeting ADF bases in the dense forests of the eastern DRC. The operation has successfully dislodged several rebel camps, but the group’s remnants continue to operate, often launching attacks on civilians.
Lt. General Kayanja Muhanga expressed Uganda’s commitment to working closely with FARDC to ensure the complete elimination of ADF threats.
General Christian Tshiwewe, representing FARDC, reiterated the DRC’s readiness to strengthen collaboration with Uganda to achieve peace and security in the region, commending the UPDF for its steadfast role in the joint operation.
With Tshisekedi’s directive to deepen military ties, it is expected that joint operations will be scaled up in the coming months, with a focus on intelligence sharing, coordinated strikes, and expanded deployments in ADF-affected areas.
