Several Congolese soldiers sustained injuries in what has been described as a “friendly fire” mistake during a bomb attack launched by a Ugandan Sukhoi jet bomber. The unfortunate event took place on Tuesday morning along Eringeti-Komanda Road, resulting in a Congolese soldier losing both legs, and others suffering from shock.
Deputy defence spokesperson Col Deo Akiiki, when contacted for comment, was unavailable at the time of inquiry, leaving questions regarding the incident unanswered. However, reliable sources confirmed the severity of the injuries, expressing concerns about the third instance of the Ugandan Air Force hitting Congolese armed forces’ positions.
The lack of confidence in battlefield management has raised alarms, with sources attributing these cases of fratricide to poor coordination by those overseeing the operations. President Museveni acknowledged Ugandan fighter-bombers’ active involvement in Congo, particularly in the Mambasa territory area, as part of ‘Operation Shujaa’ jointly launched by Ugandan and Congolese forces on November 30, 2021.
Since the operation’s initiation, numerous ADF commanders have been eliminated, leading to the disarray of the terrorist force. Officials highlight the crucial need for enhanced collaboration between Ugandan and Congolese commanders to prevent friendly fire incidents.
The incident adds to public concerns regarding the increased number of UPDF aircraft crashes in both DRC and Western Uganda.
