Uganda has declared its intention to take over the Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC) Ituri Province,
with its military leadership issuing a stark ultimatum to Congolese forces. On February 15, 2025, Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces reportedly gave the DRC military, FARDC, a 24-hour deadline to either surrender or withdraw from the Ituri region, threatening military action if the demands are not met.
“With the authority of General Yoweri Museveni, Supreme Commander of the UPDF! I’m giving exactly 24 hours for all forces in Bunia to surrender their arms! If they don’t, we shall consider them enemies and attack them,” Muhoozi announced in a statement shared on his social media.
This bold move has raised fears of a potential return to the geopolitical dynamics of the Second Congo War, where Uganda and Rwanda occupied competing zones of influence in eastern DRC.
The stated objective of Uganda’s potential intervention is to neutralize the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), an extremist group aligned with the Islamic State, which has been active in both Ituri and North Kivu provinces.
Uganda has already been involved in joint operations with the DRC military against the ADF, but this latest development suggests a shift towards unilateral action and territorial control.
The announcement has sparked significant concern regionally and internationally, with fears that it could destabilize an already volatile area and strain relations between Uganda and the DRC. Historically, Ituri has been a flashpoint for conflict,