News 2023-09-11: Congolese army pushes loyalist forces from South Sudan across the national border
In recent news, the Congolese army successfully pushed South Sudanese loyalist forces back across the national border. This operation was carried out to hunt down NAFSA rebels from South Sudan who had made an incursion into the localities of Adawu and Waliwa, on the Congolese side.
According to the army spokesperson in the Uélé operational sector, Captain Yuma Kisher, no injuries or deaths were reported from the armed forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC). On the other hand, deaths and serious injuries were reportedly recorded among NAFSA rebels and South Sudanese government forces. All were repatriated to their country of origin.
It is important to emphasize that these clashes are not directly linked to confrontations between the FARDC and the South Sudanese army, but rather to the latter’s pursuit of the NAFSA rebels. South Sudanese rebels crossed the Congolese border chased by the South Sudanese army in Waliwa, in Logo Bagela chiefdom, in Haut-Uélé province.
These clashes led to the displacement of several thousand residents of the localities of Adawu, Bomoko, Baghdad and Vingtgrammes. These civilians had to flee the violence and spend the night under the stars, causing a local humanitarian crisis.
It should be remembered that this is not the first time that South Sudanese rebels have crossed the Congolese border to sow terror among the civilian population. In 2023, two South Sudanese rebels were also arrested in the town of Baghdad, a few kilometers from Waliwa.
These events highlight the importance of strengthening border security to protect civilian populations and prevent incursions by foreign armed groups. The Congolese government will need to take measures to ensure the security of its citizens and guarantee stability in the border region with South Sudan.