Ugandan and Congolese soldiers have rescued more than 200 civilians held captive by the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), an armed group linked to the Islamic State, following a joint military operation targeting a camp along the River Epulu in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Uganda's military announced the operation on Monday, saying captives were found in poor health after enduring forced labour, food deprivation, and punishment for disobedience. Many were suffering from untreated illnesses including malaria, respiratory infections, and physical exhaustion.

The ADF originated in Uganda in 1994 as a rebel group that accused the government of persecuting Muslims. After being routed by the Ugandan army, its remnants crossed into eastern DRC, where the group has been based for more than two decades. Its leader, Musa Seka Baluku, pledged allegiance to Islamic State around 2016, and the group is now recognised by some experts and institutions as IS's affiliate in Central Africa. The ADF has since become notorious in the region for mass abductions, killings, and forced marriages, and United Nations figures suggest it has killed thousands of civilians in eastern DRC.

Uganda and DRC launched a formal joint military offensive against the ADF in 2021, though the campaign has not succeeded in ending the group's attacks. Operations have intensified since the start of this year, with forces overrunning a major ADF camp in February. During the River Epulu raid, several ADF fighters were killed and a cache of weapons was recovered. Major General Stephen Mugerwa, who leads the joint mission, told those freed: "You are not under detention. You are victims of abduction, and we shall ensure you are handed over to the relevant authorities so you can reunite with your families."

The rescue comes amid a broader deterioration of security in eastern DRC, where the ADF reinvigorated its activities last year as the country simultaneously battled other armed groups in the region. Earlier this month alone, at least 43 people were killed in a separate ADF attack in parts of Ituri and neighbouring North Kivu province. A 2024 study found the ADF responsible for more than half of all civilian deaths in the conflict-affected east.

Despite the persistent threat, Uganda's military said the sustained offensive has yielded some tangible results — displaced communities have begun returning home, schools have reopened in certain areas, and cross-border trade between Uganda and DRC has partially resumed. The fate of an unknown number of additional captives believed still held by the ADF remains unclear, underscoring the scale of the humanitarian challenge in one of Africa's most protracted conflict zones.