The Forces démocratiques alliées (ADF) remain a threat to eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, nearly five years after a joint military operation was launched by the DRC and Uganda. According to an investigation by The Sentry, released on October 27, 2026, military pressure has driven the group towards areas rich in gold and cacao. The operation, called Shujaa, was initiated in November 2021 to track down the ADF in eastern DRC.
The joint operation between the DRC's Forces armées de la République démocratique du Congo (FARDC) and Uganda's army (UPDF) has struggled to quell violence in the provinces of Nord-Kivu and Ituri. Despite continued military efforts, the ADF has adapted and found new financing sources. The Sentry's investigation reveals that the group has dispersed into more remote areas of eastern DRC, particularly in territories rich in gold and cacao.
The ADF's shift towards gold and cacao trafficking highlights the limitations of a military strategy focused solely on pursuing combatants. The group has developed new means of financing its operations through the trade of these resources. This development underscores the need to target financiers, gold traders, and intermediaries involved in these networks to cut off the group's funding.
The Sentry's report calls on the US, UK, European Union, and UN Security Council to take action against those financing the ADF. The organization's director-general, Justyna Gudzowska, emphasizes the importance of targeting those involved in gold trafficking and improving the traceability of natural resources in the region. This approach aims to deprive the ADF of its means to maintain a presence on the ground.
A July 2026 report by the UN expert group had already noted several challenges in the fight against the ADF, including a lack of personnel, reliance on armed groups, and dispersion of combatants. Despite joint operations and a state of siege in Nord-Kivu and Ituri, attacks continue in territories such as Beni, Lubero, Irumu, and Mambasa. The ADF's activities have also been reported in Haut-Uélé, indicating a geographical expansion of the threat.
In June 2025, the DRC and Uganda's military chiefs signed a revised memorandum of understanding to strengthen operations against the ADF. The agreement included the expansion of operations to Mambasa, Ituri, and measures to secure the Kasindi-Beni-Butembo road. However, the continued activism of the ADF raises questions about the effectiveness of these efforts.
The persistence of the ADF threat allows Uganda to maintain its military presence in strategic areas while protecting its security, economic, and political interests. The Sentry's investigation underscores the need for a comprehensive approach to address the ADF's financing networks and the trade of natural resources in the region.
Key points
- The ADF has turned to gold and cacao trafficking as new sources of financing.
- Military operations have dispersed the ADF into remote areas of eastern DRC.
- The international community is called upon to target those financing the ADF to cut off its funding.
