EASTERN DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO — Ugandan and Congolese forces rescued at least 200 civilians from captivity by the Allied Democratic Forces during an operation along the River Epulu in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo last week, according to Uganda's military. The freed captives had been held at a camp run by the ISIL-linked rebel group.

Several ADF fighters were killed during the offensive, and a number of weapons were recovered, the Ugandan military said. The rescue formed part of a broader operation targeting ADF positions along the river.

Those freed from the camp were in poor health, according to the military. A military statement said: "Many [of the captives] recounted harsh conditions in captivity, including lack of food, forced labour, and punishment for disobedience." The statement added: "Several appeared frail, suffering from untreated illnesses such as malaria, respiratory infections, and physical exhaustion."

The Ugandan military accuses the ADF of kidnapping large numbers of civilians and forcing young female captives into marriage. ADF attacks on civilians have increased in recent months in parts of Ituri and North Kivu province, and at least 43 people were killed in an ADF attack earlier this month.

Joint operations by Uganda and the DRC have intensified since the start of this year, with Ugandan and Congolese forces overrunning a major ADF camp in February. A military statement said: "The sustained offensive has improved security in parts of eastern DRC, enabling displaced communities to return home, schools to reopen, and cross-border trade between Uganda and the DRC to resume."

The ADF began in 1994 as a rebel group in Uganda, accusing the Ugandan government of persecuting Muslims. It crossed into eastern DRC around 2001 following offensives by the Ugandan army and is now based in the country's east. The group pledged allegiance to ISIL about a decade ago and has increased attacks along the border of Uganda and the DRC over the past decade. United Nations figures suggest the ADF has killed thousands of civilians in eastern DRC.

The ADF reinvigorated its activities in 2025 while the DRC battled several other rebel groups in the east, including the Rwandan-backed M23.