By Our Reporter
Ugandan People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) stationed in Fataki, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, successfully repelled two consecutive attacks by heavily armed militants belonging to the Cooperative for Development of the Congo (CODECO).
The coordinated assaults occurred on Wednesday and Thursday (March 18–19, 2025), with the insurgents attempting to dislodge the UPDF blocking force in early morning raids. However, the attacks were met with strong resistance, resulting in significant losses for the militants. On Wednesday alone, 31 CODECO fighters were killed, while Thursday’s battle saw an additional 211 militants neutralized.
During the confrontations, the UPDF suffered one fatality, and four soldiers sustained injuries. The injured personnel have since been evacuated to Uganda for further medical care, with all expected to make a full recovery.
The UPDF had recently deployed to Fataki to prevent fleeing remnants of the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) from infiltrating the area. The ADF has been under mounting pressure from joint UPDF and FARDC (Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo) operations under Operation Shujaa. Intelligence reports indicate that CODECO recently allied with the ADF, escalating attacks against local Congolese communities, particularly targeting the Hema ethnic group.
Over the past months, CODECO militants have been responsible for massacres that have claimed the lives of hundreds of civilians, including women and children. Entire villages have been torched, looted, and abandoned in the wake of these attacks.
The presence of the UPDF in Fataki, as well as in the neighboring towns of Bunia and Mahagi, has brought a sense of relief to local communities, who have endured years of relentless violence at the hands of CODECO and allied militias. Additionally, the UPDF deployment is expected to curb the flow of refugees into Uganda, as hundreds have been crossing the border in search of safety and protection.
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