One of founders of ADF Islamist group arrested in east of DRC

According to Kampala, Benjamin Kisokaranio was responsible for the information, finances and logistics of Ugandan rebels until 2019.

Le Monde with AFP

One of the founders of the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), an Islamist armed group of Ugandan origin, was arrested on Tuesday, January 11 in the East of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), outside the area where armies From the two countries conduct operations, we learned Wednesday of military sources.

“Benjamin KisoKeranio, officially Chief Information for ADF until 2019 and close to former Chief ADF Jamil Mukulu, was arrested yesterday [Tuesday] in the Uvira region, South Kivu,” Declared at AFP a Congolese military official who did not wish to be cited. “He was known by our services, who followed his incessants movements in the region,” said this source, adding that at the time of his arrest, “he held a Congolese passport”.

It was captured “near the border with Burundi and is now in the hands of the DRC forces,” said Colonel Ronald Kakurunggu, a spokesman for the Ugandan army. According to Kampala, Benjamin KisoKeranio was responsible for intelligence, finance and logistics of ADF.

Born in the Congolese maquis, he is the son of Bwambale KisoKeranio, founder of another Rébélle Ugandan lay group, the National Army for the Liberation of Uganda (Nalu), which had made alliance in 1995 in the East of the DRC with Ugandan militias mainly composed of Muslims. In 2007, after negotiations with Kampala, his father and several rebels of the Nalu returned to Uganda.

“He was shuttles to Burundi”

Benjamin KisoKeranio, stayed in the Congolese jungle with Alilabaki Kyagulanyi (known as Identity of Jamil Mukulu) and the Ugandan MP Yusuf Kabanda (deceased), where they stayed with the ADF branch, according to an old United Nations official responsible for the repatriation of the rebels of the Nalu.

The ADF Group, the most murderer in the DRC, is presented by the Islamic State Organization (EI) as its branch in Central Africa (ISCAP). Its current leader, Moussa Baluku, made a declaration of allegiance to this international jihadist movement in 2019. “Benjamin Kisokeranio had opposed this decision and left the Beni region for the neighboring province of South Kivu. Where he was shuttles to Burundi, where his family lives, “said AFP former UN official.

Congolese and Ugandan armies have been conducting joint military operations since 30 November against ADF positions. The Congolese army on Wednesday led new strikes in the Beni region, found a correspondent of AFP.

/Media reports.