By Riches Soberekon
Joseph Kabila, the former President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), has denied allegations from Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni that he harbored rebels from the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF).
According to Museveni, Kabila permitted the Islamist rebel group to increase their presence and take advantage of mineral resources during his tenure as the leader of the DRC.
Kabila served as the DRC’s leader from 2001 to 2019.
Kabila’s spokesperson said the Congolese government recognized the ADF as a terrorist organization and kept the international community informed of the abuses perpetrated by the ADF.
The ADF, which was established in 1996 as a Ugandan rebel group, has pledged allegiance to the Islamic State. It still carries out attacks in both Congo and Uganda.
Kabila’s rejection of the accusations comes as the DRC and Uganda are working to coordinate their efforts to combat the ADF.
The ADF occasionally commit murders in Uganda. In the previous month, the group crossed the border into Uganda and attacked a secondary school, killing 42 people who were mostly students.
