Ugandan and Congolese forces rescue 200 people from ISIL-linked ADF

Soldiers rescue civilian captives held by the Allied Democratic Forces, a group linked with ISIL (ISIS).Ugandan and Congolese forces have reported the rescue of at least 200 civilians from captivity by an ISIL (ISIS)-linked rebel group in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).The captives were freed last week after being kidnapped by the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), Uganda’s military said on Monday.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Why are humanitarian crises in African countries so ignored?list 2 of 3Are commercial interests driving Uganda’s military operations in DR Congo?list 3 of 3Is ISIL a growing threat in the DR Congo and East Africa?end of listIt said those freed from the camp along the River Epulu that was run by the former Ugandan rebel force were in poor health.“Many [of the captives] recounted harsh conditions in captivity, including lack of food, forced labour, and punishment for disobedience,” a military statement said. “Several appeared frail, suffering from untreated illnesses such as malaria, respiratory infections, and physical exhaustion.”The ADF, also referred to by some experts and institutions as an ISIL affiliate in Central Africa, originally began in 1994 as a rebel group in Uganda, whose government it accused of persecuting Muslims. The group pledged allegiance to ISIL a decade ago.Twenty-five years ago, it crossed the border into eastern DRC after offensives by the Ugandan Army. It is now based there and has stepped up attacks along the border of the two countries over the past decade or more.United Nations figures suggested it has killed thousands of civilians in eastern DRC, where the military accuses it of kidnapping large numbers of civilians and forcing young female captives into marriage.The ADF reinvigorated its activities last year as the DRC battled several other rebel groups in the east, the most prominent being the Rwandan-backed M23.