Museveni meets Kabila, pledges to help flush out ADF 'bandits' in DRC

Ugandan president Yoweri Museveni has re-emphasized his resolve to help the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to flush out rebels of the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) who remain a security threat to both countries.

Museveni said he was ‘‘ready as usual’‘ to deploy the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) to join the fight against the remnants of ADF rebels usually found in the east of the DRC.

Museveni was speaking during bilateral talks with DRC’s president Joseph Kabila. The ADF’s leader, Jamil Mukulu was arrested in Tanzania and is now facing prosecution. That has however not stopped clashes between the group and Congolese forces.

Local media reports that President Museveni received Kabila at the Uganda/Congo border post of Mpondwe in Bwera, before the two leaders held bilateral talks at Mweya Safari lodge, Queen Elizabeth National Park.

The two leaders also discussed cross-border trade and tourism since both Uganda and DR Congo share Virunga National Park a major tourist attraction. Museveni wrote on twitter that Kabila had also offered security assurances to Ugandan traders in his territory.

The rebels have been fighting in eastern DRC since 1995. The ADF rebels are opposed to Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, who has been in power since 1986.

The UN Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO) and the Congolese government have stepped up to respond to a series of massacres that have claimed over 600 civilian lives in the Beni area since October 2014.

We held bilateral discussions on areas of mutual interest for both countries, mainly security and economic issues. pic.twitter.com/xX7setDqqs

— Yoweri K Museveni (@KagutaMuseveni) August 4, 2016