Alima attacked by ADF

 

 The village of Alima, located in the Mandima health zone, was attacked on the evening of Tuesday, May 19, 2026, by suspected ADF fighters.

The provisional death toll stands at 9, including Pygmies, as well as wounded, missing civilians, and houses burned down.

This new attack attributed to ADF fighters has plunged the village of Alima, located about 7 kilometers north of Biakato Centre, in the Babila Babombi chiefdom of Mambasa territory, into mourning. The provisional death toll stands at 17 civilians, including five Pygmies, while a hotel, several kiosks, and three motorcycles were burned down by the attackers. According to local sources, the rebels had already been reported in the vicinity of Alima since the morning of Tuesday, May 19, 2026, when two people were executed before the attack on the village, despite the security services being alerted. The situation remains worrying as several residents are still missing and the area remains difficult to access, complicating the accurate assessment of human and material losses. The  Mambasa monitoring team is calling on residents of the surrounding villages, including Kundu, Pakwida, Kasoko, Mitume, Lelesi, Luhindi, Kanyotha, Mabangungu, Dondola, Mahu, Vukutse, Wamba, Kalongo, Mabuho, Amani, and Musiko, to exercise extreme vigilance in light of the reported advance of the attackers toward the western part of the region.

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Under US Pressure, How Far Will the AFC/M23 Retreat?

 

US sanctions on Kigali have forced the AFC/M23 to retreat to Kamanyola, a strategic stronghold on the border with Rwanda, the rebellion's sponsor. This retreat allows the rebels to stall for time while Kinshasa seeks to tighten sanctions on Kigali.

Back to square one in Kamanyola. On May 9, 10, and 11, the AFC/M23 rebels unilaterally withdrew from the Ruzizi Plain and its hills. Their troops relocated to Kamanyola, 75 kilometers north of Uvira, the second largest city in South Kivu, which they had briefly occupied in December 2025. 75 kilometers is the distance to which the United States had demanded the rebels withdraw. The capture of Uvira was seen as a real humiliation by Washington, which had just brokered the peace agreement between the DRC and Rwanda, the country supporting the rebellion. Five months later, the AFC/M23 returned to Kamanyola, its initial position, which it had occupied since the fall of Bukavu in February 2025.

US sanctions that “hurt” Kigali

This repositioning of the rebels is not really a surprise. American pressure has recently intensified on their Rwandan backers. Last March, Washington decided to place several high-ranking officers, as well as the entire Rwandan army, under sanctions. This unprecedented move is beginning to weigh heavily on Kigali, where, according to the website Africa Intelligence, a trip by President Paul Kagame to the United States was canceled “directly linked to tensions between his country and that of Donald Trump.” Recently, the Rwandan president acknowledged that the American sanctions "hurt," while maintaining his stance on the conflict in the DRC.

Demonstrating a certain "good faith"

Under pressure, the withdrawal of the AFC/M23 is therefore a sign of goodwill from the rebellion, which has decided to play the "good student" after another round of unproductive negotiations in Switzerland with the Congolese government. The ceasefire and its verification mechanism, as well as the prisoner release agreed upon in Montreux, have still not materialized, and fighting has never ceased on the ground, particularly in South Kivu, which remains the main focal point of the conflict. The rebels have ceded the initiative in the clashes to the Wazalendo, the Congolese army's auxiliary militias, allowing the rebels to demonstrate a certain "good faith" in respecting the ceasefire. The AFC/M23 denounces daily attacks by Wazalendo and Congolese army drones, particularly in the Banyamulenge-populated area of ​​Minembwe.

Kamanyola, a key position for the AFC/M23

While the rebels' retreat to Kamanyola is indeed a consequence of American pressure, it changes little in the balance of power on the ground. Located on the border of the DRC, Rwanda, and Burundi, Kamanyola remains the strategic gateway to the Ruzizi Plain, as well as to the Highlands. The proximity of the Rwandan border allows the rebels to easily receive logistical support in the form of supplies, weapons, and troops from Kigali. Kamanyola also forms a buffer zone to protect Bukavu, particularly from the Burundian army. Finally, the rebels remain pre-positioned to intervene in the Highlands should the situation of the Banyamulenge population deteriorate again.

A Very Meager American Pressure on the Military Ground

Kinshasa views the rebel withdrawal from Kamanyola as another victory for its diplomatic strategy focused exclusively on American pressure. In March 2025, Washington pushed the AFC/M23 to leave the Walikale sector, primarily to secure the Alphamin mining site, a company that was, at the time, American and Canadian-owned. In December 2025, the United States succeeded in liberating Uvira from rebel occupation. Finally, in early May 2026, American pressure pushed the AFC/M23 back to Kamanyola, its positions prior to the Uvira offensive. The territorial gains are meager, but allow Kinshasa to claim victory and continue to mask its failures on the military front.

Towards a Future Withdrawal of Rwandan Soldiers?

The return to Kamanyola allows the rebels to buy time, avoid a possible new round of sanctions, particularly against Kigali, but above all, to continue stalling. Meanwhile, the rebellion continues training its officers and new fighters in the areas it controls. To further demonstrate its goodwill, the next step could be the withdrawal of Rwandan army personnel present on Congolese soil as part of the "defensive measures" implemented by Kigali. This would buy the rebels even more time. For its part, Kinshasa,With its only diplomatic card in hand, the DRC is trying to convince Washington to increase sanctions on Rwanda. A bill proposed by a Democratic congressman seeks to impose sanctions for "any violation of the peace agreements concluded in Washington between the DRC and Rwanda." Paul Kagame is clearly the target. But in the meantime, the conflict remains frozen, and the rebels do not seem willing to relinquish Kamanyola, which allows them to maintain control of Bukavu.

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Wazalendo accusses M23 of executing FARDC senior officers in Binza

In the Rutshuru territory, Binza group, Kiseguro locality, M23 rebels allegedly allied with Rwanda summarily executed three brave FARDC soldiers on Friday, May 15, 2026. These soldiers had been captured during the fall of Goma in January 2025 and had refused to support the rebellion's criminal enterprise.

On the direct orders of M23 Colonel Eustache Ndazibonye, commander of the Binza (Kiseguro-Nyamilima) axis, Lieutenant Colonel ASEDRI ANGUY Jhon, Second Lieutenant Akwa, and Sergeant ILUNGA were summarily executed in violation of international humanitarian law (IHL) for helping their fellow FARDC soldiers escape.

It should be noted that Colonel Eustashe Ndazibona and a captain named Eric are

accused of serious human rights violations in the Binza group and everywhere they operated in the past before their recent deployment to the area.

FARDC claims capturing a Fuso truck, full of bags of cannabis belonging to an M23 commander, intercepted by security services in the Far North

A Fuso truck filled with bags of cannabis was intercepted by security services in the Far North a few days ago.

According to the spokesperson for Operation Sokola 1, the cannabis belongs to an M23 commander named Zimurinda Innocent, based in Rutsuru.

"He sent it from Rutsuru to be sold in our area of ​​responsibility," stated Lieutenant Marc Elongo during a press conference this Tuesday, May 19, in Beni.

A SUSPECTED ADF LEADER ARRESTED IN MAHAGI THIS MORNING

 According to intelligence extracts we have received on our desk,a suspected Kenyan leader of the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) was arrested this morning in Mahagi, Ituri province, while attempting to travel to Bunia.

According to HUMINT  collections from the local communnities, the man was identified by truck drivers thanks thought he reassemble an ADF who was pictured in the Congolese forest with a flag attributed to the Islamic State. He was then handed over to the relevant authorities for investigation.

FARDC CONTINUE TRACKING ADF

 FARDC claim to be on the tracks of an ADF group trying to cross the RN4 between Mayi-Moya and Eringeti, in Beni territory.

According to the military, a soldier was killed during a hanging Monday, May 18, along with a woman farmer. Operations continue to neutralize this armed group.

After a joint operation by Wazalendo, FARDC and UPDF, the main strongholds have already been dismantled on the Isange, Butambisi, Mapendano, Paris Soir and Kibaraza axis.

In short, a large part of the Bapere sector is already liberated, salutes a civil society actor.

GEN MUHOOZI KAINERUGABA 'S " OPERATION MALIZA UFISADI" - THE MOST IMPORTANT MILITARY OPERATION IN UGANDA SINCE 1986

 

They have been many- Operation Shujaa, operation Lightening thunder , Operation Thunderbolt,  operation Iron Fist, Operation Safisha, Operation Mugulugushu, but this latest one is the most significant  of them all, and to note, there will be no resistance! " We know this enemy, he is a cancer that has been growing for the last 40 years and we just have to finish it off"- a loyal Colonel " No Nonsense" says from.the Mbuya Barracks OP 

To understand the strategic importance of the campaign , it helps to break down both the literal meaning of the phrase and the broader political landscape of Uganda.

​"Maliza Ufisadi" is Swahili  language for "End Corruption" (or "Finish Corruption").

​The campaign—spearheaded by ebullient maverick General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, who serves as the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) of the Uganda People's Defence Forces (UPDF) and leader of the self styled outfit  Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU)—represents a calculated, high-stakes maneuver with profound implications for Uganda’s political trajectory.

​1. Strategic Importance:

 Weaponizing Anti-Corruption

​Historically, anti-corruption crackdowns in transition-phase governments serve dual purposes.

 Strategically, "Operation Maliza Ufisadi" allows Gen Muhoozi to achieve several critical military, political and civil objectives:

​Rebranding and Resurgence of his Populist Appeal: General Muhoozi has frequently faced criticism from opposition groups and civil society regarding human rights and the concept of dynastic succession (often referred to in Ugandan politics as the "Muhoozi Project"). Framing himself as the vanguard against corruption targets the number-one grievance of the Ugandan public: the embezzlement of public funds by entrenched elites.

​Cleaning up the State Apparatus: By utilizing military-style determination—as hinted at by the quote "The man who waits for the perfect shot dies with a full magazine"—the operation signals a shift toward aggressive and forceful accountability within government ministries and local governments.

​Consolidating the UPDF Armed Forces: As CDF, ensuring that the military remains untainted by the corrupt practices of civil bureaucracy reinforces the discipline and legitimacy of the UPDF as the ultimate anchor of national stability.

​2. Tectonic Impact on Uganda's Political Scene

​The political impact of this smart targeted  operation is reshaping the landscape as Uganda navigates the complex dynamics of the post-2026 election cycle and future succession:

​Sidelining Old Guard Competitors: Anti-corruption operations give the state a legitimate mechanism to audit, arrest, or politically neutralize powerful, long-serving politicians and bureaucrats. By aggressively pursuing ufisadi, Gen Muhoozi effectively dismantles Museveni's old guard patronage networks that belong to the older generation of political actors, clearing a path for his own base.

​The Transition Blueprint (From Military to Civil Power): Through his civic movement, the Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU), Muhoozi has sought to transition his image from a strict military commander to a civic reformer. "Operation Maliza Ufisadi" serves as the policy bridge. It allows him to champion a popular civilian issue (anti-graft) while retaining the authoritative backbone of his military rank.

​Disarming the Opposition's Core Message: For years, major renegagde opposition outfit  platforms like NUp, FDC  have campaigned almost exclusively on anti-corruption and state wastage. By launching a aggressive, state-backed offensive against corrupt officials, the ruling establishment effectively co-opts the opposition's strongest talking point, leaving them with less rhetorical leverage.

And in the history of Uganda ,every Ugandan from whichever political affiliation is happy about this operation!!

​Summary of the Quote on his poster: 

​The quote at the bottom of the poster highlights the tactical philosophy behind the campaign:

​"The man who waits for the perfect shot dies with a full magazine."

​In the context of Ugandan politics, this is a clear declaration of decisive action over political hesitation. It signals that General Muhoozi and his allies are no longer willing to wait for perfect consensus or bureaucratic alignment before purging corrupt elements from the system—they intend to act swiftly and disruptively.

" The Enemy  is scared, the enemy is silent, the enemy is shaking, we know that enemy  a d that enemy  must be crushed. We will leave no stone unturned. They know themselves, surrender  now"  Anon