UPDF has together with the Congolese army, FARDC announced the capture of Anywari AI Iraq, an expert in explosives for the Allied Democratic Forces(ADF) operating in DRC.
“Anywari, an expert in improvised explosive devices (IEDs), is born of Busia district in Eastern Uganda,” Major Bilal Katamba, the public information officer for Operation Shuja said.
According to Maj Katamba, during the operation, one SMG rifle, 45 rounds of ammunition, 03 walkie-talkies, 01 RPG charger, and an assortment of improvised explosive device (IED) making materials were also recovered.
“Relatedly, four children and five women were rescued in Ituri province in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. The rescued children and women are receiving basic medical attention as arrangements are underway to transfer them to a better medical facility.”
The UPDF and FARDC have intensified the pursue of ADF rebels inside DRC since December 2021 .
A number of the rebel commanders and fighters have been either killed in action or captured alive while several abductees have also been rescued .
Also, several ADF camps have been destroyed during the operation.
Designated as a terrorist group by the US government, ADF has used the name Madina at Tauheed Wau Mujahedeen (City of Monotheism and Holy Warriors—MTM) to refer to emphasize its links to the Islamic State.
In 2019, the Islamic State claimed responsibility for an ADF attack and first referenced a “Central Africa Province.”
The Islamic State group has in the past claimed that ADF is its Central African offshoot.
The Bridgeway Foundation recently said that ADF has since been specifically named as Islamic State in DRC to move away from being referred to as the Central Africa Province of ISIS/ ISIL.
“When ISIS recognized ADF, it became the Islamic State in DRC and Isis fighters from across the region started joining ADF. More fighters moved from Somalia, Tanzania, South Africa and many other places. Because ADF got more manpower, they became more deadlier.”
