UN Secretary-General Condemns Rebel Attack on Ugandan School.

 

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has expressed strong condemnation of the recent attack on a secondary school in western Uganda, believed to have been carried out by the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) group. According to Ugandan authorities, the ADF rebels targeted Lhubirira secondary school in Mpondwe, near the border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), resulting in the tragic death of at least 37 students. Several other students were critically injured, and six remain in the custody of the rebels.

In a statement issued by his deputy spokesperson, Farhan Haq, Guterres called for the perpetrators of this heinous attack to be brought to justice swiftly. The secretary-general extended his heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims, as well as to the government and people of Uganda. He also emphasized the urgent need for the immediate release of the abducted students.

Guterres reaffirmed the importance of collaborative efforts, particularly through strengthened regional partnerships, to address the issue of cross-border insecurity between the DRC and Uganda. Restoring lasting peace in the region remains a crucial goal, as highlighted in the statement.

The ADF, which is a faction of the Islamic State in Central Africa, has been operating from the jungles of eastern DRC. The rebel group has been held responsible for widespread disruption and violence in villages across the region. In response, the Ugandan military and their Congolese counterparts initiated joint operations against the ADF in November 2021.