The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) army reported on Monday the arrest of two individuals who identified themselves as Tanzanians, suspected of being recruited by the ISIS-linked Allied Democratic Forces (ADF).
The two suspects, identified as Mugeni from Zanzibar and Jackson from Arusha, were reportedly stopped at the Pasisi roadblock together with their motorcycle drivers, while allegedly heading to Mambasa, an ADF operational base.
The ADF was formed in 1996 following the unification of various Ugandan rebel groups and has since been operating in Beni, eastern DRC. One of its founders, Jamil Mukulu, was arrested in Tanzania in 2015 and extradited to Uganda for trial. According to the U.S. Department of State, the group established ties with ISIS in 2018. While most of its fighters are Congolese, the group has used religion to recruit members across the region.
In 2021, the governments of Uganda and the DRC launched Operation Shujaa, a joint military campaign against the ADF and its allies.
The ADF is notorious for committing atrocities against civilians, including mass killings, abductions, and sexual violence. On Sunday, March 9, 2025, the group attacked villagers in Ngohi, North Kivu, killing 13 people.
