In one of the fiercest confrontations yet in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) have eliminated 242 militants from the notorious CODECO group in a decisive two-day battle at Fataki, Ituri Province.
The heavily armed CODECO militias — largely drawn from the Lendu ethnic group and infamous for their brutal attacks on civilians — launched coordinated assaults on the UPDF battle group positions in Fataki on Wednesday and Thursday (18–19 March 2025). According to military sources, the militants attempted to dislodge the UPDF blocking force through early morning raids but met devastating resistance.
The first wave of fighting on Wednesday resulted in the deaths of 31 militants, while a much larger offensive on Thursday morning left 211 dead in what military commanders described as a “decisive and overwhelming response.” The UPDF suffered one fatality and four injuries. The wounded soldiers have been evacuated to Uganda and are expected to make full recoveries.
The UPDF’s deployment in Fataki came just weeks ago, as part of efforts to contain remnants of the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) fleeing from intense joint operations by UPDF and FARDC forces under Operation Shujaa. Intelligence reports suggest that CODECO has recently entered into a dangerous alliance with the ADF, intensifying their campaign of terror against vulnerable communities in the region.
Over the past months, CODECO militias have unleashed a wave of atrocities in Ituri, slaughtering hundreds of civilians — many of them women and children from the Hema ethnic group — and leaving behind scorched villages, mass displacement, and unimaginable suffering.
Local leaders and community members in Fataki, Bunia, and Mahagi have expressed relief and gratitude for the UPDF presence, describing it as a turning point after years of living under the shadow of militia terror.
The latest UPDF success is expected to significantly reduce refugee flows into Uganda, where hundreds have already crossed the border in recent weeks in search of safety.
As the dust settles over Fataki, the UPDF remains on high alert, determined to continue safeguarding vulnerable populations and neutralizing the militant threat along the volatile Uganda–DRC frontier.
