OPERATION KUTA FUTA

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21 Sep 2011

OPERATION KUTA FUTA

Operation "Kuta Futa" (The Search) started from 18 to 22 August 2011.It was jointly conducted by Bangladeshi Contingent (BANBAT-1) and FARDC in South Irumu near Lake Albert and Uganda border in Ituri district of Oriental Province, under the aegis of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Considering the recent incidents of looting by militias suspected to be led by Cobra Matata, the Operation was carried out in the localities of Ozoba, Sorodo, Potopoto, Mabili, Mt Mokato, Kazaroho, Kpouma, Matalatala and Mawara, covering a radius of 20 km. The Operation aimed at protecting the civilians, preventing frequent militia movement, disorganizing and annihilating militias, and showing up MONUSCO presence in the militia affected areas.

The Operation was conducted in the following phases: at the first phase Bangladeshi Contingent and FARDC assembled in the concentration area together. The next day they moved to Ozoba and Sorodo and established robust TOBs, which acted as launching pads for FARDC to raid on militia hideouts, to deny militia extrication towards west and north-west of South Irumu and to create a deterrent effect to degrade the level of threat to the lives and properties of civilians in those areas. Subsequently they also established TOBs in the other area. FARDC also unilaterally established TOBs in several localities. During the Operation period they conducted day and night domination patrols in the general area. MILOBs also performed their classic role duly supported by BANBAT-1 and FARDC.