Thousands of Congolese Refugees Flood Uganda

More than 30,000 refugees from eastern Democratic Republic of Congo fleeing a rebel attack on the town of Kamango arrived in neighbouring Uganda on July 13, 2013.

The town of Kamango in the northernmost part of North Kivu province was attacked and briefly occupied July 11, 2013 by a Ugandan-Muslim separatist group, the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF).

The ADF was formed in the 1990's by groups that felt sidelined by the government.They staged several attacks on villages and towns, including a 1998 massacre of 80 students at a college in Kabarole. A government-led offensive ended their activities in 2001 and killed many ADF commanders, while the remaining fighters fled to the Democratic Republic of Congo, where they have continued to wage small-scale attacks.

Stephane is a 59year-old Red Cross employee in DRC. He is a refugee in Uganda for the second time in his life. Photo courtesy of @luckycbeck.

Stephane is a 59-year-old Red Cross employee in DRC. He is a refugee in Uganda for the second time in his life. Photo courtesy of UNHCR/@luckycbeck (used with permission).

The government of the Democratic Republic of Congo claims that Al-Shabaab fighters from Somalia are collaborating with the ADF rebels.

Irina Punga (@ir33na), a world traveler passionate about UN, peacekeeping, protection of civilians, DRC, media and strategic communications, shared an article about ADF rebels using Eastern DRC as a training base:

@ir33na: #Ugandan #ADF rebels use Eastern #DRC as training base http://goo.gl/CCqcQ

Mubatsi Asinja H (@Asinja), a Ugandan journalist and blogger, expressed his confusion about the situation:

@Asinja: So which is which if now #Uganda‘s military now withdraws claim that it's not #ADF rebels that attacked #DRC‘s Kamango town?

Richard Kabonero (@richardkabonero), the ambassador of Uganda to Rwanda, warned:

@richardKabonero: We must make it to clear to the DRC govt and the International community that any attack by ADF on Ug will have severe consequences.

musoga bin kyabazing ‏(@MusogaK) reminded the ambassador that Uganda “made it clear” to the rebels since 1998:

@MusogaK: @richardkabonero I thought we made that clear in 1998….besides do we need to really “make it clear”, don't they know?

NTV UGANDA (@ntvuganda), one of Uganda’s leading TV stations known for comprehensive Ugandan news coverage, reported:

@ntvuganda: Uganda Red Cross has registered 19000 refugees who have crossed into Uganda thru Kamango & R.Lamia in Bundibugyo fleeing an #ADF assault

Lucy Beck (@lucycbeck) shared a photo to illustrate the plight of refugees fleeing into Uganda:

@lucycbeck: 1 yr old ushundi was carried on his mums back for 1 day 2 reach #uganda afta #ADF attacked his home http://yfrog.com/ocdilpxj

She (@lucycbeck) later reported:

@lucycbeck: Already 3,000 pple in our new transit centre in #bundibugyo + more arriving halfhourly. time 4 them 2 get a hot meal + much needed rest #ADF

MONUSCO (@monusco), the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, tweeted about latest fighting in Kivu:

@MONUSCO: In North #Kivu, #MONUSCO repels #ADF ambush on its troops and reaffirms that any attacks on peacekeepers is considered a war crime

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