The Chief of Defense Forces (CDF), General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has issued an ultimatum to armed forces in Bunia, the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s Ituri Province.
Drawing authority from the Commander in Chief, President Museveni, Gen. Muhoozi disclosed Uganda’s readiness to take decisive military action if his demands are not met.
“With the authority of General Yoweri Museveni, Supreme Commander of the UPDF! I’m giving exactly 24 hours for all forces in Bunia to surrender their arms! If they don’t, we shall consider them enemies and attack them,” Muhoozi proclaimed on X.
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Uganda has undertaken a joint military operation alongside the DRC’s army in Ituri province, primarily targeting the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), a group accused of terrorism in both Uganda and DR Congo.
However, ethnic cleansing targeting speakers of a language similar to Runyoro, Runyakitara, has seemingly widened the insurgency.
Under the UPDF Establishment that came into force last year, the CDF has the powers to mobilize the army, provided he briefs the Commander-in-Chief.
Whilst faced with multiple rebel outfits in Eastern Congo, President Félix Tshisekedi skipped the African Union (AU) Peace and Security Council summit in Addis Ababa, where the crisis in his own country was being discussed, traveling to Europe.
Tshisekedi opted for a 6,800km journey to the Munich Security Conference, where he took the opportunity to blame his predecessor, Joseph Kabila, for the ongoing political crisis.
“The real sponsor of the opposition that took up arms in complicity with Rwanda is hiding: it is Joseph Kabila,” he said. “He does not admit it and does not assume responsibility for his actions.”
Meanwhile, Burundian forces scrambled out of South Kivu (in Congo) on Friday evening.
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