FARDC and UPDF Intensify Operations Against ADF in Mambasa

Mambasa, January 9, 2026 - Joint FARDC-UPDF forces continued their offensive against ADF rebels on Friday, January 9, in the Kolo-Kolo and Banju-Banju localities, deep in the forests of Mambasa territory. The operations follow a recent ADF attack on an army position, which reportedly killed around ten FARDC soldiers. The month-long offensive aims to dismantle ADF strongholds in the Babila Bakwanza chiefdom, allowing civilians to safely access their fields and move freely. For several months, the ADF rebels have established fortified positions in the heart of the chiefdom, approximately 100 kilometers southwest of Bunia, from which they plan attacks on civilians and security forces along National Route 4 on the Komanda-Mambasa axis. Local sources report that the rebels also impose illegal taxes on farmers, exacerbating the hardships faced by the population. Security forces have faced heavy casualties, including the loss of about ten soldiers, and some army camps have been burned during ambushes. Reinforcements have since been deployed to continue the dismantling of ADF positions. Civil society actors in Mambasa have welcomed the interventions, noting that ADF violence has significantly decreased in the region as a result of the joint operations.