Thirty-seven (37) former hostages of the ADF rebels were handed over to civil society in Beni this Thursday, January 16, 2025, in the province of North Kivu, in the East of the Democratic Republic of Congo

 

The ceremony was facilitated by the Sokola 1 Grand Nord operational sector in front of certain competent authorities. These former hostages were abducted by the attackers, mostly in the fields during rural activities, particularly in Beni, Lubero, Irumu and Mambasa in Ituri.

"37 former hostages recovered by the joint FARDC-UPDF force have just been handed over to the civil society of Beni city and territory this Thursday. They are 07 men and 18 women , 12 children," said Lieutenant-Colonel Mak Hazukay, spokesperson for the Sokola 1 Grand Nord operational sector.

According to this military officer, an M23 fighter recruited in Ituri surrendered to the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo. 

Civil society in the city of Beni, through its president, Maître Pépin Kavotha, calls on the population to welcome these civilians and accept them into their families.

As a reminder, several other former hostages were handed over to civil society and MONUSCO last year in the same region in the presence of certain security authorities.