Hundreds of heavily armed Lendu militants from CODECO—the Cooperative for Development of the Congo—launched a two-day assault on a Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) battle group stationed in Fataki, eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. Despite their efforts, the militants failed to dislodge the UPDF.
According to Chris Magezi, the acting director of defence public information, the militants attacked the UPDF blocking force in early morning raids on Wednesday and Thursday (March 18-19, 2025). Each time, they were repelled, suffering heavy casualties. A total of 31 militants were killed on Wednesday, while another 211 died in Thursday’s fighting.
Magezi confirmed that the UPDF lost one soldier, while four others were injured. The injured personnel have been evacuated to Uganda for further medical treatment, and all are expected to recover.
The UPDF had recently deployed in the area to prevent fleeing Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) remnants from infiltrating the region amid increasing pressure from joint UPDF and FARDC operations under Operation Shujaa.
“The CODECO militias recently struck a pact with the ADF terrorist group and have, over the past few months, escalated violent attacks against Congolese communities in the Ituri Province, particularly targeting the Hema ethnic group,” Magezi stated.
He added that CODECO’s brutal massacres have left hundreds of Hema civilians dead, including women and children. Villages have been torched, looted, and destroyed in the violence.
The UPDF’s presence in Fataki, as well as in the neighboring towns of Bunia and Mahagi, has provided much-needed relief to local communities that have endured relentless attacks by Lendu and allied militias for years.
Additionally, the UPDF deployment in northern Ituri is expected to curb the flow of refugees crossing into Uganda, as hundreds have fled the violence in recent weeks seeking safety.
