Answering a question about the evolution of the movement, the parliamentarian said that the ADF now relies on fighters from several countries in the region — Mozambique, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi — and is able to operate in four Congolese provinces at once. He recalled the origins of this group, which emerged in the 1990s in Uganda as an opposition movement against the government of Yoweri Museveni and initially had no terrorist intentions. According to Carly Nzanzu Kasiwita, over time, under the influence of globalization and with the support of external Islamist fundamentalists, the ADF has increased its organizational potential and turned into a structure capable of sabotage and terror, including through the use of technology. «We should no longer perceive this group as dissidents seeking power in Uganda», he stressed, calling on the republic to fully understand the nature of this threat.
The deputy spoke in detail about the new sources of financing for the group, which in the territories under its control, in particular in Mambasa, levies so-called «survival taxes», threatening death to anyone who refuses to pay. He also recalled the recent attacks in Mambasa and Lubero on gold miners, including Europeans, as well as cocoa producers, which, in his opinion, indicates the expansion and diversification of the armed group's income.
Operationally, Karly Nzanzu Kashiwita acknowledged the remaining gaps in military intelligence in the face of an enemy that avoids direct confrontation, plans its actions in advance and launches surprise attacks on isolated villages, after which it disappears. He advocated strengthening technological capabilities and developing bilateral and multilateral cooperation, believing that intelligence remains the most effective tool for neutralizing ADF cells, including outside the Congolese borders. He also warned against the premature withdrawal of Ugandan forces involved in joint operations, as this, he said, would create a security vacuum that the militants would immediately use to regain lost territories.
The parliamentarian outlined in detail his proposal to establish local defense committees, which he sees as an organized response by the state involving affected communities, rather than as a spontaneous initiative. When asked about the risk of slipping into a logic similar to that observed in the Vasalendo self-defense groups, he insisted on a difference: in his opinion, we are talking about a «decision in support» of regular military operations, and not about their replacement. The goal is to ensure that the population is not left without protection in areas where the army cannot be permanently present.
Answering a question about the role of the National Assembly in monitoring this war, Karly Nzanzu Kasiwita acknowledged the limited parliamentary control over the operational management of military operations. These powers are under the jurisdiction of the General Staff and are largely inaccessible to Parliament due to the lack of constitutional norms that allow military leaders to be directly summoned to the national representation. Nevertheless, he noted that the Defense and Security Commission maintains regular contacts with the Minister of Defense and supported the adoption of the law on military planning as a structural response to the challenges facing the country. Regarding the hypothesis of links between the ADF and other armed groups in the east, especially in the context of the AFC/M23 crisis, the MP was cautious. He pointed out that the ADF, according to his information, consistently rejected alliance proposals from other groups, including M23. Nevertheless, he acknowledged the movement's ability to create support structures that recruit local residents, particularly in Beni territories, sometimes under the guise of training.
While refusing to provide accurate statistics, which he considers «fluid» in an unstable situation, Karly Nzanzu Kashiwita admitted that the past two months have been accompanied by an upsurge in mass killings in Mambasa and Beni, and the total number of deaths and displaced persons since the advent of the ADF is in the thousands. Answering the question about the responsibility for this impasse — the military command, the political government, or both levels of government — the deputy refused to personalize the blame, seeing in what is happening primarily a systemic failure of the Congolese state, which failed to build a deterrent and proactive defense system. He expressed solidarity with the people of Beni, who are wondering about the constant lack of protection, despite the series of announced military operations.
Answering a question about the possibility of an exclusively military solution to the problem of the ADF, the parliamentarian called it "bold" to set a deadline for their neutralization, recalling that terrorism persists in other regions of the world facing similar challenges. However, he noted the comparative advantage of the DRC over examples such as Nigeria or the Sahel: according to him, the ADF has not been able to integrate into local Congolese communities, and they are forced to resort to recruitment raids. Increased coordination between military operations and local communities, in his opinion, could put an end to what he calls the «adventure of the ADF».
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