DRC: how the ADF rebel group maintains its capacity for nuisance
The village of Manzalawu (Manzalaho) in the Beni territory, February 18, 2020, after the raid attributed to the ADF rebels.
At least 15 people were killed in this village of 1,000 inhabitants whose population fled.
© AFP
Text by: RFI Follow
3 min
While President Felix Tshisekedi continues his tour in the east of the country to assess the results of the state of siege and of the army's operations, the United Nations group of experts published its final report on June 16, including a large part is devoted to North Kivu.
In particular, he takes stock of operations against the ADF, an Islamist rebel group originally from Uganda.
The expert group interviewed more than 140 people from all walks of life.
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The group of experts redesigned the organization chart of the ADF and the topography of their camps and noted that both remain broadly the same as before the army's operations in 2019. But these operations made it possible , with the arrest of several ADF employees, according to UN experts, to reduce their workforce and restrict their supply chains.
Recent videos and photos show that these rebels are nonetheless well armed.
They even have two drones and increasingly use homemade explosive devices.
At least 45 soldiers and 12 civilians were victims between November and March.
According to the testimonies gathered by the group of experts, the main source of supply for the ADF remains the recovery of weapons from the FARDC during the attacks, which justifies that the army is regularly targeted.
Kidnapping of civilians
There is no evidence in this report
of support for the Islamic State
, even though the ADF claims to be ISIS.
To replace the troops lost in the fighting with the army, this group recruits in the region, including, during attacks, they kidnap civilians to make them fighters.
The attack on Beni prison would also have had this objective: 1,300 people out of 1,455 detainees had escaped.
Note that in areas where the ADF are rife, the FARDC of Congo are also accused of abuses, rapes, summary executions, but also trafficking of all kinds: gold, cocoa, weapons, in particular.
President Tshisekedi will be in Bunia in Ituri this Thursday, June 17.
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To read also:
DRC: who are and what want the ADF?
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DRC
Felix Tshisekedi
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