29 Hostages Rescued From ADF Armed Group in Congo

A joint operation by the Congolese and Ugandan armies freed the captives in Ituri province.

Nov 5, 2026 · 3 min read

29 Hostages Rescued From ADF Armed Group in Congo — Photo: Prensa oficial de International Christian Concern

A total of 29 hostages, including Christians, were rescued in late October in Ituri province, in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, International Christian Concern reported.

The rescue followed joint operations by the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC) and the Ugandan army (UPDF) in the Nduye-Dingbo road area. For years, the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) have terrorized that region with killings, kidnappings and attacks on civilians, most of them Christians.

A Month Tied Up in the Bush

Several of those freed were captured while harvesting cassava in their fields. They were tied up, their motorbikes were taken, and they were forced to move from camp to camp through the forests of Biakato, Alimbako and nearby areas. They slept on the ground, far from home.

«The gratitude of having them back lives alongside a pain that doesn't go away overnight.»

— Redacción Sígueme

"They tied us up, took our motorbikes and forced us into the bush, where we suffered greatly," recalled a survivor from Biakato (translation by Sígueme). He said they were sometimes given only bananas or a minimal ration, and that they lived under constant threats. According to his account, several people died from hunger, mistreatment, illness and killings.

An Ituri official said that, after almost a month in captivity, the survivors are beginning to reunite with their families thanks to the joint work of both armies. He also acknowledged that many carry physical and psychological scars from what they endured at the hands of their captors.

Coming Home With Support and With Fear

Authorities reported that all 29 hostages will receive assistance to return to their communities. The military said conditions are being prepared for a safe return and that no one will be left behind. They also asked the public to report suspicious movements, as well as anyone linked to criminal activities.

The official promised that operations will continue to free more people from the hands of criminals and the ADF, and urged communities not to shield militants. For Christian families in Ituri, the release came as a relief after weeks of anguish.

What You Can Do

The gratitude of having them back lives alongside a pain that doesn't go away overnight. The trauma is still there, and so is the fear of new ADF attacks. Many continue to pray for lasting peace, for protection, and for the return of those who are still missing or in captivity.

Scripture doesn't promise a life free of violence, but it does promise a near presence in the midst of it: "The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit" (Psalm 34:18, ESV). That is the comfort a church can offer someone who comes back from the bush with a marked body and a memory full of noise.

This week you can pray by name for these families and for the pastors who are walking alongside the survivors. You can also support organizations that serve displaced people and victims of violence in eastern Congo, or share this story with your small group so the church doesn't forget those who suffer far away. What concrete step will you take?