Uganda: Two successive crashes of army helicopters leave at least 22 soldiers dead

Two crashes of helicopters of the Ugandan army on Monday and Tuesday on mission against terrorists in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), killed at least 22 soldiers including 3 Congolese soldiers, Anadolu news agency reports citing the Congolese army.

The first crash occurred near the village of Boga, in the Ituri province of the DRC, and the other in the border area of Kabarole, in Uganda, a spokesman of the Congolese army said.

The army source also indicated that the two helicopters “were in offensive operations against terrorists of the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF). The various crashes caused the death of 19 Uganda soldiers.

Both armies did not provide causes nor the circumstances of the crashes. The Uganda army has been in action in Eastern Congo since November on the side of Congolese forces to overcome Uganda-based ADF. The rebel group has been endorsed by the Islamic state group and considered by the international terror organization as its Eastern African branch.