Political situation in Congo-Kinshasa

More than 200 people rescued from ADF camp in Congo

More than 200 people held captive by the ADF rebel group in Congo-Kinshasa have been freed after a rescue operation, the Ugandan military says, writes the BBC. The operation was a joint effort between the Ugandan and Congolese military.

– You are victims of abduction, and we will ensure that you are handed over to the relevant authorities so that you can be reunited with your families, says Major General Stephen Mugerwa, who led the operation, in a statement.

Several children are said to have been among those freed, the youngest of whom is a 14-year-old girl. It is unclear when and where the people were kidnapped. But according to the Ugandan military, they are said to have lived in unbearable conditions. Among other things, there was a lack of food, forced labor and punishment for disobedience. Several are said to have contracted malaria.

According to the Ugandan military, several ADF soldiers were killed in the raid. It is unclear whether any soldiers from Uganda or Congo were killed. 

15 from the US have been deported to Congo after the new agreement

Congo-Kinshasa has received 15 people who have been deported from the US, the UN announced according to Le Monde. This is the first group of deported people from the US that Congo has also agreed to receive after the new deportation agreement.

Seven women and eight men are said to have landed in the Congolese capital on April 17, a source told Le Monde. The main ones were people from Colombia and Peru.

The agreement means that Congo will receive migrants who cannot be deported to their countries of origin. They will only stay in Congo for a short period and the Congolese government has previously said that the US will cover all costs.

At the same time, both countries are negotiating for the United States to gain access to mineral resources in the country, in exchange for mediating talks to end the conflicts in eastern Congo.

The United States has previously deported people to countries in Africa, such as Eswatini and South Sudan, after negotiating more referral agreements as part of Donald Trump's third-country program, writes AP. Something that has been criticized by human rights organizations.