Sudan issues Kony deadline
Dec 03, 2002
KHARTOUM has given Uganda two more months to flush out the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) from bases in southern Sudan,
KHARTOUM has given Uganda two more months to flush out the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) from bases in southern Sudan, reports John Eremu.
Meanwhile, Uganda has reiterated her stand not to offer any support to the Sudanese People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) that has fought the Khartoum government since 1981Defence minister Amama Mbabazi told journalists yesterday that the protocol extending Operation Iron Fist up to January 31, 2003 was concluded at the weekend in Khartoum.
“The Ugandan side reiterated its commitment not to harbour, sponsor or give military or logistical support to the SPLA/M as stipulated in articles 1 and 4 of the 1999 Nairobi Agreement,†said a joint communique signed by Mbabazi and his Sudanese counterpart, Maj. Gen. Bakri Hassan Salih.
In Khartoum, Bakri also issued the same communique announcing the extension, Reuters news agency reported.
Sudan and Uganda have in the past traded allegations that each country was allowing rebel groups to operate on their soil. Mbabazi, who had just returned from Khartoum, said Sudanese liaison army officers will now be stationed in Gulu to monitor the observance of the agreement and likewise UPDF liaison officers will be in southern Sudan.
“We are also going to have a joint inter-ministerial committee meeting next month to look at wider areas of co-operation,†Mbabazi said.
The press conference at the parliamentary building was attended by the chief of military intelligence, Col. Noble Mayombo, and the army spokesman, Maj. Shaban Bantariza.
Mbabazi was non-committal on whether Kony would be have been defeated after January 31, 2003. “I don’t give deadlines. But the operation will continue until Kony and his terrorist group is defeated,†he said.
Mbabazi said the latest extension of the protocol and any future extensions will be based on the overall objective of flushing Kony out of Sudan and ending his terrorist activities.
“The main aim of the protocol was to search and destroy the terrorist camps in the Sudan. That objective has not yet been accomplished and that will be the case if January 31, 2003 comes and we have not yet destroyed the camps. But I hope we shall have destroyed them,†Mbabazi said.
He said Kony, who has waged a 16-year long rebellion, was still in southern Sudan and had returned to his command post, Rubanga Tek, following the withdrawal of the UPDF to the border. Kony was routed from the camp last March.
Mbabazi said Uganda was satisfied with the Sudanese government explanation on the allegations that some Sudanese army officers had resumed support to Kony.
He condemned the recent terrorist bombing in the Kenyan port city of Mombasa, saying terrorism undermines the cause of any struggle.
“Those are crimes against humanity which all civilised people must condemn,†Mbabazi said.
Meanwhile, Justin Moro reports in Gulu that the UPDF has stepped up security in the district following the entry of about 300 rebels from Pader district, security and military sources said.
The UPDF has carried out rapid deployment throughout the district, mostly in Nwoya and Kilak counties which are a rebel hotbed.
Fourth Division spokesman Lt. Paddy Ankunda said the rebels crossed the Gulu-Kampala road but he did not know how many they were.
Meanwhile, Uganda has reiterated her stand not to offer any support to the Sudanese People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) that has fought the Khartoum government since 1981Defence minister Amama Mbabazi told journalists yesterday that the protocol extending Operation Iron Fist up to January 31, 2003 was concluded at the weekend in Khartoum.
“The Ugandan side reiterated its commitment not to harbour, sponsor or give military or logistical support to the SPLA/M as stipulated in articles 1 and 4 of the 1999 Nairobi Agreement,†said a joint communique signed by Mbabazi and his Sudanese counterpart, Maj. Gen. Bakri Hassan Salih.
In Khartoum, Bakri also issued the same communique announcing the extension, Reuters news agency reported.
Sudan and Uganda have in the past traded allegations that each country was allowing rebel groups to operate on their soil. Mbabazi, who had just returned from Khartoum, said Sudanese liaison army officers will now be stationed in Gulu to monitor the observance of the agreement and likewise UPDF liaison officers will be in southern Sudan.
“We are also going to have a joint inter-ministerial committee meeting next month to look at wider areas of co-operation,†Mbabazi said.
The press conference at the parliamentary building was attended by the chief of military intelligence, Col. Noble Mayombo, and the army spokesman, Maj. Shaban Bantariza.
Mbabazi was non-committal on whether Kony would be have been defeated after January 31, 2003. “I don’t give deadlines. But the operation will continue until Kony and his terrorist group is defeated,†he said.
Mbabazi said the latest extension of the protocol and any future extensions will be based on the overall objective of flushing Kony out of Sudan and ending his terrorist activities.
“The main aim of the protocol was to search and destroy the terrorist camps in the Sudan. That objective has not yet been accomplished and that will be the case if January 31, 2003 comes and we have not yet destroyed the camps. But I hope we shall have destroyed them,†Mbabazi said.
He said Kony, who has waged a 16-year long rebellion, was still in southern Sudan and had returned to his command post, Rubanga Tek, following the withdrawal of the UPDF to the border. Kony was routed from the camp last March.
Mbabazi said Uganda was satisfied with the Sudanese government explanation on the allegations that some Sudanese army officers had resumed support to Kony.
He condemned the recent terrorist bombing in the Kenyan port city of Mombasa, saying terrorism undermines the cause of any struggle.
“Those are crimes against humanity which all civilised people must condemn,†Mbabazi said.
Meanwhile, Justin Moro reports in Gulu that the UPDF has stepped up security in the district following the entry of about 300 rebels from Pader district, security and military sources said.
The UPDF has carried out rapid deployment throughout the district, mostly in Nwoya and Kilak counties which are a rebel hotbed.
Fourth Division spokesman Lt. Paddy Ankunda said the rebels crossed the Gulu-Kampala road but he did not know how many they were.