Troops Free 200 Captives From ISIL-Backed Militia in Uganda and Congo

Ugandan and Congolese security forces have rescued more than 200 civilian captives who were being held by the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), a militia group with ties to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), officials said.

The joint operation, which took place in the border region between Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), was conducted by the Ugandan People's Defense Force (UPDF) and the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC).

According to the Ugandan military, the rescued captives included women and children who had been abducted by the ADF, a militant group that has pledged allegiance to ISIL and carried out numerous attacks in the region.

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The ADF has been active in the border regions of Uganda and the DRC for decades, engaging in kidnappings, killings, and the recruitment of child soldiers. The group's ties to ISIL have heightened concerns about the spread of international terrorism in Central Africa.

The joint operation between the UPDF and the FARDC is part of a broader effort to combat the ADF and restore stability in the region. The rescued civilians are now being provided with medical care and support to help them recover from their ordeal.

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The successful rescue mission is a significant achievement for the security forces of Uganda and the DRC, and a blow to the ADF's operations in the region. However, the threat posed by the group and its ISIL affiliations remains a major concern for the governments and people of Central Africa.

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