Kampala, Uganda – The Ugandan government on Friday returned nearly 100 Congolese police officers who had sought refuge in the country to escape the escalating conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
According to a statement by Ugandan military spokesperson, Major Kiconco Tabaro, the officers crossed into Kanungu district in southwestern Uganda to flee fighting between the M23 rebel group and the Congolese armed forces. After verifying their identities, Ugandan authorities allowed them entry on humanitarian grounds in compliance with international law.
Alongside the officers, the Ugandan military seized their weapons, ammunition, and other military equipment.
The repatriation comes as a growing number of Congolese civilians continue to pour into Uganda to escape the intensifying violence in the eastern part of their country. The M23 insurgency, which reignited in 2022, has led to a humanitarian crisis, with over 1.7 million people displaced from their homes in North Kivu province alone. This brings the total number of internally displaced Congolese to a staggering 7.2 million, according to United Nations figures.
The Congolese army has ramped up its offensive against the M23 rebels in recent months, employing drones and aircraft in its operations.
