At least 42 people were killed and 15 children abducted in a suspected rebel attack on a secondary school in western Uganda. The Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), a militia linked to the Islamic State group, were blamed for the attack.
The attack took place on Friday night in the town of Mpondwe, located near the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo. The Ugandan army said it was pursuing the militants and would retaliate.
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres condemned the attack, calling for those responsible to be brought to justice. EU foreign affairs representative Josep Borrell echoed his comments, calling the attack “appalling.”
“This terrorist violence targeting children is beyond comprehension,” Mr Borrell said in a tweet.
The ADF has been active in the border area of Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo for years. The group says it is fighting for the rights of Muslims, who are increasingly pushed to the margins of Ugandan society by the government and law enforcement. However, the victims of their attacks are mostly civilians.
The ADF’s worst attack occurred in 1998 when militants killed 80 students in an attack on a university in the border region.
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The attack on the secondary school is a reminder of the ongoing threat posed by the ADF and other militias in the region. The Ugandan government and the international community need to work together to bring an end to this violence.
