The joint pursuit for the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) by the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) and Congolese military targeted more enemy camps in Ituri and North Kivu with airstrikes and artillery bombardment, a security source in DRC has revealed.
This marks the beginning of the second phase of Operation Shujaa which is aimed at defeating the terrorist group that has been using the DRC jungles as a launchpad for terror activities in Uganda and the region.
“Early this morning we launched the second phase of Operation Shujaa by bombarding other ADF camps in North Kivu and Ituri,” a security source told this the Kampala Post, an online publication.
During the first phase of the operation, several ADF camps were destroyed and their headquarters at Kambi Ya Yua was captured by joint UPDF and FARDC forces.
Recently, while on routine patrol, UPDF forces discovered mass graves in which ADF leaders buried hundreds of victims of the earlier bombardment.
Since the launch of the operation Shujaa last year, several ADF camps have been destroyed with over 60 ADF fighters surrendering to the joint UPDF and FARDC forces.
Senior UPDF leaders including the Commander Land Forces Lt Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba have urged the terrorists to surrender if they want to be given a second chance.
“We continue to urge all ADF terrorists to immediately cease any attacks on civilians and to immediately surrender to either UPDF or FARDC troops. Otherwise, they will continue paying a terrible price,” Gen Kainerugaba said in a tweet on February 2.