By: Joyce Nalugwa, commandonepost.com
The joint Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) and Uganda Peoples Defense Forces (UPDF) have said they have critical information about the presence of an armed group harboring sinister clandestine plans deliberately to sabotage the joint military action against the ADF rebels. According to a joint statement issued by FARDC and UPDF spokespersons, the vicious plans mission aims at not only sparking and promoting hostility towards the UPDF and FARDC among the local population that they have been mandated to protect but also create generalized panic and stamped in this same population which welcomed and supported the coalition forces since the launch of the operations against the enemies of peace.
This followed after the Congolese customs officers on January 06 intercepted a commercial truck in Butembo carrying clothes similar to UPDF uniforms, particularly that of the Special Forces Command an elite division of the UPDF. Security sources say the owner of the consignment who is a top businessman in Butembo is closely linked to a Congolese military officer only identified as Musebo. The said military uniforms had been manufactured from Thailand.
It is further indicated that as soon as the consignment was intercepted and confiscated, Musebo quickly ordered that they be returned to him claiming that he was the end receiver.
By wearing the UPDF uniforms and insignia, the armed group plan to resort to this subterfuge to camouflage themselves to be able to go on atrocious rampage to wreck unsalable havoc including massacres in order to badly injure the image of the UPDF.
This would ultimately create the belief that UPDF is the one attacking people they have saved and protected so far. Sources told this website that the armed group is supported by a country in the region which is opposed to Uganda-DRC joint forces against the ADF terrorists. This country has been accused of logistically supporting the ADF with weapons, safe passed of ADF leaders to and from DRC jungles and their fighters.
The FARDC and the UPDF reassure the public that they will not allow themselves to be distracted or diverted from their missions to permanently neutralize the enemy. The joint forces affirm that in the conduct of operations, they respect human rights, international humanitarian law and the rules of engagement”.
