At least six killed in border clashes between South Sudan and Uganda
Elements from the two armies exchanged fire on Monday in South Sudan's Kajo Keji county, killing five South Sudanese (SSPDF) soldiers, South Sudanese officials said.
Ugandan army spokesperson Felix Kulayigye said SSPDF soldiers had strayed into Uganda's West Nile region and refused to leave, leading to the firefight, in which at least one Ugandan soldier died.
Uganda has backed forces loyal to South Sudanese President Salva Kiir for several decades, helping the country fight for independence, which was won in 2011, and during the subsequent civil war.
Kajo-Keji county said in a statement that five SSPDF soldiers had been killed in a surprise attack by Ugandan forces backed by tanks and artillery. South Sudan's army confirmed the skirmish but did not say how many died.
An existing joint border committee will look at ways to find a peaceful resolution to recurrent border-related disputes, SSPDF spokesperson Lul Ruai Koang said in a statement released late on Tuesday.
In March, South Sudan invited Uganda's army to help bolster security in the capital Juba, following a breakdown in the turbulent relationship between Kiir and his rival, First Vice-President Riek Machar.
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TimesLIVE
30-07-2025
- TimesLIVE
At least six killed in border clashes between South Sudan and Uganda
At least six people have been killed in clashes between longstanding allies South Sudan and Uganda near their shared border, where competing claims over the poorly defined boundary often flare into small-scale fighting. Elements from the two armies exchanged fire on Monday in South Sudan's Kajo Keji county, killing five South Sudanese (SSPDF) soldiers, South Sudanese officials said. Ugandan army spokesperson Felix Kulayigye said SSPDF soldiers had strayed into Uganda's West Nile region and refused to leave, leading to the firefight, in which at least one Ugandan soldier died. Uganda has backed forces loyal to South Sudanese President Salva Kiir for several decades, helping the country fight for independence, which was won in 2011, and during the subsequent civil war. Kajo-Keji county said in a statement that five SSPDF soldiers had been killed in a surprise attack by Ugandan forces backed by tanks and artillery. South Sudan's army confirmed the skirmish but did not say how many died. An existing joint border committee will look at ways to find a peaceful resolution to recurrent border-related disputes, SSPDF spokesperson Lul Ruai Koang said in a statement released late on Tuesday. In March, South Sudan invited Uganda's army to help bolster security in the capital Juba, following a breakdown in the turbulent relationship between Kiir and his rival, First Vice-President Riek Machar.
The South African
28-07-2025
- The South African
38 dead in DRC church attack blamed on ADF rebels
Suspected Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) rebels killed 38-43 people during a Catholic night vigil at Blessed Anuarite parish in Komanda, Ituri province, on 27 July 2025, according to local officials. Armed with guns and machetes, the attackers stormed the church around midnight, targeting worshippers in prayer. Local officials reported that the church attack injured at least 15 people and abducted several others. Witnesses reported gunfire and screams as worshippers fled in panic. Since 2019, the ADF has claimed allegiance to the so-called Islamic State. This is the deadliest attack reported in Ituri province in 2025, surpassing the February massacre in Samboko and Matolo villages that killed 23 civilians. Islamic State-linked rebels launched a brutal attack on a Catholic church in Komanda, Ituri province, killing at least 34 worshippers during a night vigil. Armed with guns and machetes, suspected members of the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) stormed the church shortly after midnight. The attack caused panic as people screamed and ran for their lives. In response, civil society leader Dieudonné Duranthabo strongly condemned the killings. He also called for immediate military intervention to protect civilians from further violence. The rebels did not stop at the church. They also set fire to nearby houses and shops. Following the attack, local officials reported discovering at least three charred bodies in burnt homes. Tragically, most of the victims were young. Father Aimé Lokana Dhego confirmed that 31 of the dead were members of the Eucharistic Crusade, a Catholic youth prayer group. In the wake of the massacre, volunteers began preparing a mass grave within the church grounds to bury the dead with dignity. As fear spread, many survivors fled to Bunia and surrounding villages. Residents are now calling for urgent protection and humanitarian support. This attack marks one of the deadliest in Ituri province this year. ADF'S HISTORY AND MOTIVES The ADF originated in Uganda in the late 1990s before relocating to eastern DR Congo in 2002 after military pressure. Since then, the group has killed thousands, often targeting churches and schools in a campaign of terror. The ADF is notorious for brutal attacks using machetes and firearms. In mid-2019, under Musa Baluku's leadership, the group pledged allegiance to ISIS and became the Islamic State's Central Africa Province (ISCAP), pursuing a caliphate in Central Africa without a formal political programme. Although joint Ugandan-Congolese military operations began in 2021, they have failed to dismantle the group's command structure. Eastern DR Congo remains volatile, with over 130 armed groups competing for control of territory and resources. DR Congo's army described the church attack as a 'large-scale massacre' by the ADF. Army spokesperson Jules Ngongo confirmed that rebel activity around Komanda remains a significant threat. MONUSCO denounced the assault as 'revolting' and a clear breach of international humanitarian law. UN officials have warned of a surge in violence across Ituri province this month, including threats to civilians. Despite deploying Congolese troops, security forces have struggled to stop rebel advances in rural areas. Local NGOs now call for urgent international intervention to safeguard communities and assist displaced populations. Meanwhile, the search for the missing continues amid fears of repeat attacks on places of worship. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 11. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
Eyewitness News
28-07-2025
- Eyewitness News
More than 40 killed in rebel attack in northeast DR Congo
BUNIA - More than 40 people were killed Sunday in an attack by Allied Democratic Forces rebels in northeastern DR Congo, ending a months-long period of regional calm, the UN mission and Congolese military said. The ADF, which pledged allegiance to Islamic State in 2019, raided a Catholic church in the town of Komanda where worshippers were gathered for prayer, residents told AFP by telephone from Bunia, capital of Ituri province. The attack killed 43 people including nine children, according to the UN peacekeeping mission in the country. "These targeted attacks on defenseless civilians, especially in places of worship, are not only revolting but also contrary to all norms of human rights and international humanitarian law," said Vivian van de Perre, deputy chief of the peacekeeping mission. The Congolese army denounced the "large-scale massacre", adding that "around forty civilians were surprised and killed with machetes and several others were seriously injured". It said the ADF had decided to take "revenge on defenseless peaceful populations to spread terror". Local sources had reported an earlier death toll of at least 35. Lieutenant Jules Ngongo, army spokesman in Ituri, did not comment on the toll but confirmed the attack to AFP, saying "the enemy is believed to have been identified among ADF" rebels. The bloodshed comes after months of calm in the region of Ituri, bordering Uganda. The last major attack by the ADF was in February, leaving 23 dead in Mambasa territory. The town of Komanda in Irumu territory is a commercial hub linking three other provinces -- Tshopo, North Kivu, and Maniema. The ADF, originally Ugandan rebels who are predominantly Muslim, have killed thousands of civilians and ramped up looting and killing in northeastern DRC despite the deployment of the Ugandan army alongside Congolese armed forces in the area. At the end of 2021, Kampala and Kinshasa launched a joint military operation against the ADF, dubbed "Shujaa", which has so far been unable to dislodge the group. The Congolese army promised to continue tracking the ADF and called on the population "to remain extra vigilant and report any suspicious presence to the defense and security forces".
