In a collaborative effort, the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) army successfully rescued 14 women from the clutches of Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) rebels in the eastern region of the DRC.
The rescue operation took place on Monday night at the confluence of River Talha and Semullik, North Kivu province, as stated by the UPDF in a statement.
The army stated that this particular group was responsible for the attack on Lhubirira Secondary School in Mpondwe, Kasese district, which occurred on June 16. The attack assault resulted in the loss of 37 students, a security guard, and three other individuals from the local community.
One of the rescued individuals is a Burundi national who had served as the wife of Abu Waqas, and she had been held captive by the ADF for a period of five years.
The UPDF shared images of the freed women, showcasing the relief and joy on their faces after being liberated.
The joint military efforts by the UPDF and their Congolese counterparts commenced in November 2021, shortly after the ADF orchestrated bomb attacks in Kampala. Since then, the collaborative operations have targeted the rebel group, aiming to quell their violent activities in the region.