Around a hundred civilians held hostage by the ADF escaped during joint military operations carried out on the night of Wednesday October 30 to Thursday October 31 by the FARDC-UPDF coalition in the forest of Mont Hoyo, in the chiefdom of Walese Vonkutu, in southeast of the territory of Irumu, in the province of Ituri.
According to civil society in Irumu territory, there are 118 people, including minors and several women, who escaped and were captured by FPIC militiamen in Bogi village, before being handed over to the military authorities in Komanda .
Pascal Kiezo, president of local civil society, specifies that these people claimed to have escaped during the bombing of the FARDC-UPDF coalition. He also invites the authorities to take this situation seriously in order to properly identify them so that they do not become a source of insecurity once released into the community.
“Civil society informs public opinion of the presence of so-called ADF survivors this Thursday, October 31 in Komanda, where there are 118 people coming from Mount Hoyo following the bombings of the pooled forces on the evening of the 30 October, between 7 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. These survivors, who fell into the hands of the FPIC in the Bogi village, were handed over to the FARDC in Komanda. We alerted, on October 29, 2024, of a suspicious movement of these ADF towards Mont Hoyo. , which led to these bombings. We encourage our forces to increase bombings wherever there is a suspicious movement of these ADF, so that the population can return to this part of the Walese Vonkutu chiefdom. examine the statements of these survivors, because it is unusual for 118 people to escape from the hands of the enemy at the same time, we say to the population to denounce any suspicious case and to increase collaboration with the shared FARDC-UPDF forces. “, he told Actualite.cd.
Siro Nsimba Bunga Jean, military administrator of the Irumu territory, calls on these ex-hostages to trust the army, which showed its professionalism during their release.
“If it had not been thanks to the effort of our valiant military, you would still be in their hands. I therefore invite you to support our military, because they have made this effort. Tomorrow, if you return to your areas, do not oppose our army. We only have one army; do not plot against it. Know that your army is the FARDC. You have been freed, and I know that even God is with you. he said in Swahili to these ex-hostages before offering his condolences.
These civilians had been captured by the ADF in the villages of Bana Kongo, Bahaha, Kundalakundala, in Mambasa territory, more than a month ago.
Joint FARDC-UPDF forces have launched several attacks in localities along the Komanda-Luna axis in an attempt to liberate the RN4, where these rebels are carrying out attacks making movement difficult between Ituri and North Kivu.
Freddy Upar, in Bunia
