The Wazalendo Synergy of the Grand-Nord Front announced on Friday 21 August 2026 that it had recaptured several historic strongholds of the Islamist terrorist group ADF (Allied Democratic Forces) in the Bapere sector, located in Lubero territory, North Kivu.

According to John Mangaiko, spokesperson for this armed civilian organization, these military successes are the result of offensive operations carried out in close collaboration with the coalition of the Congolese (FARDC) and Ugandan (UPDF) armies.

Several strategic localities formerly under the control of the insurgents, notably Mabuo, Bududiya and Isange, are now under the control of the coalition forces.

“Operations by the Wazalendo Synergy on the Far North Front are going well,” said John Mangaiko. According to the spokesperson, this progress on the security front is already bearing fruit in humanitarian and economic terms. It is enabling the local population to return to their villages and gradually resume their daily activities in the Bapere area.

In response to the accusations regularly levelled at local armed groups, the Synergie des Wazalendo used this statement to categorically deny any involvement of its members in financial or economic malpractice. John Mangaiko firmly denied reports suggesting that the Wazalendo were involved in illegal mining or in creating administrative and traffic obstacles in the recently liberated areas.

“What we do is voluntary work,” he insisted, adding that the small contributions received come spontaneously from some local residents. These donations, he said, are simply a token of appreciation from the local population for the efforts made by these volunteers to secure their communities.

Written by Azarias Mokonzi