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At least 22 killed after two Ugandan army helicopters crash in east Congo
Details of the incident have not been shared yet by the Uganda People's Defence Force, according to a Congo army spokesman
Published : 28 Sept 2022, 11:37 AM
Updated : 28 Sept 2022, 11:37 AM
At least 22 people were killed when two Ugandan military helicopters crashed in east Democratic Republic of Congo on Tuesday, a Congo army spokesman who did not wish to be named told Reuters on Wednesday.
Uganda sent troops to its central African neighbour in December to help fight a violent rebel group known as the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF).
"The [Uganda People's Defence Force (UPDF)] have not yet told us the circumstances of the crash," the spokesman said without providing further detail.
UPDF spokesman Felix Kulayigye confirmed one helicopter crash and said "there were fatalities, but I don't have any extra details at the moment".
The ADF is among several militias wrangling over land and resources in Congo's mineral-rich east over the past decade, a conflict that has claimed thousands of lives and displaced millions.
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At least six others are missing and 22 survivors are being assisted by the agency and local authorities
"Because the boat was overcrowded and unsuited to carry passengers, it ended up sinking," BBC reports citing Jaime Neto, secretary of state for the province of Nampula
According to a local resident, at least 19 bodies were recovered after the incident with an additional 15 found on Friday morning
