**Rescue Operation: FARDC-UPDF Coalition Forces Free Hostages from ADF in July 2024**
In a show of bravery and determination, the FARDC-UPDF Coalition Forces successfully rescued 23 people held hostage by the ADF. Among the survivors were 13 minors, including 3 infants under the age of one, who were subjected to inhumane conditions in the jungle and are suffering from severe malnutrition. The decisive intervention of the Joint Mobile Forces helped extract the hostages from the area near the Malibongo River, north of Tokomeka, in Ituri province.
Lieutenant Colonel Mak Hazukay and Major Bilal Katamba of the Operations Communication Cell “Shujaa” confirmed that the survivors, comprising 16 women and 7 men, were received at the UPDF tactical headquarters in Luna to receive emergency medical care. The mothers of the infants were also provided with basic medical care on site, and arrangements are underway to transfer them to a facility where they can receive more comprehensive care.
This rescue operation, conducted within the framework of the joint FARDC-UPDF operations called “Shujaa”, is a demonstration of the military forces’ commitment to combating the ADF, a terrorist organization associated with the Islamic State and responsible for numerous atrocities against the population of the region. These operations, now in their 31st month, aim to definitively eradicate the ADF threat and ensure the protection of innocent civilians.
The release of the hostages is a strong signal to armed groups seeking to sow terror and destabilize the region. It demonstrates the ability of the FARDC-UPDF Coalition Forces to act with courage and determination to protect vulnerable populations and ensure security and stability in the Ituri region.
This rescue operation is a shining example of the cooperation between the Congolese and Ugandan Armed Forces and their shared commitment to combating terrorism and violent extremism. It also demonstrates the resilience and determination of survivors to overcome hardship and rebuild their lives after facing the horror of captivity.
By rescuing these hostages, the FARDC-UPDF Coalition Forces have not only freed these innocent people, but have also sent a clear message to terrorist groups: violence and terror will never be tolerated, and justice will always prevail.