Almost a week after Ugandan forces arrived in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo to help Kinshasa battle the Islamic State-linked Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), an army spokeswoman acknowledged that glowing reports of early battlefield successes have so far been impossible to document or corroborate.
The joint operation in North Kivu and Ituri provinces, codenamed Operation Shuja, started in the morning hours of 30 November with an artillery and aerial bombing of four ADF bases. At the time, Brig. Gen. Flavia Byekwaso boasted that the targets were “accurately hit”.
Meanwhile, the land forces commander, Lt. Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has been touting the “tremendous successes” of the joint operation.
Since the beginning of Op Shujaa 5 days ago, our valiant troops together with our Congolese brothers have achieved tremendous successes. We thank our compatriots for the support. Long live the brotherhood between the people of DRC and Ug! We shall triumph against the terrorists. pic.twitter.com/AUL2jVGdwt
— Muhoozi Kainerugaba (@mkainerugaba) December 5, 2021
