Two other LRA bosses killed in DR Congo
Jun 14, 2009
THE Congolese forces, aided by Ugandan intelligence operatives, have killed two notorious LRA commanders in the on-going operations to rout remnants of the rebels from the vast and dense forests of eastern Congo.
THE Congolese forces, aided by Ugandan intelligence operatives, have killed two notorious LRA commanders in the on-going operations to rout remnants of the rebels from the vast and dense forests of eastern Congo reports Henry Mukasa.
Sources in UPDF and MONUC, the UN peacekeeping force in Congo, said Ocan Bunia, the commander of one of Kony’s brigades, was killed on April 27 near the town of Aba at the Congo-South Sudan border.
Another LRA officer, George Labongo, a brigade intelligence officer, was killed two days ago in Faradje, one of the larger towns in the region, about 70 km south of Aba.
The news of Bunia’s death was not released earlier because his body first needed to be identified. According to MONUC, his body was dug up on April 29 and recognised by former LRA abductees.
“I am aware Ocan Bunia is dead. The Congolese (army) told us he is dead. Whether through ambush or attack, all we know is that he was killed,†a Ugandan intelligence source said.
The same source said Labongo, also known as the killer of Barlonyo, was shot dead on Saturday evening.
UPDF spokesperson Maj. Felix Kulayigye declined to comment. He said it was up to the Congolese army to brief the media about the ongoing operations since the UPDF had withdrawn from Congo.
Efforts to get any comments from the Congolese army were futile. Bunia was a notorious LRA commander who led many daring attacks in various parts of the country. He was the commander of one of Joseph Kony’s four brigades.
Considered one of Kony’s most trusted commanders, he was promoted to ‘Brigadier’ in April 2005 and was involved in the arrest and execution of Vincent Otti in October 2007.
In August 2003, when the LRA made incursions into Teso region, Bunia commandeered the LRA fighters west of Kapelebyong in Katakwi district.
At the end of 2004, he operated east of Palabek in Kitgum district, where the rebels were expected to assemble during a truce to allow for peace talks led by Betty Bigombe. However, the LRA then used the cease-fire zone to attack surrounding villages.
Labongo, who was the brigade intelligence officer of current army commander Okot Odhiambo, played a leading role in the massacre at Barlonyo IDP camp on April 21, 2004.
About 300 people were hacked, clubbed and burned to death when they were told to hide into their houses by LRA rebels disguised as UPDF soldiers. Earlier, the rebels had overpowered the local army detachment.
In another development, the Congolese, guided by Ugandan intelligence, last week rescued some 100 abductees around Dakwa, a village in north-eastern Congo, 200km from the border with the Central African Republic.
The LRA had attacked the village on June 2. They looted houses, shops, the health centre and the catholic mission, and abducted 200 people who had gathered to mourn a dead villager.
The UPDF pulled out of eastern Congo after the three-month Operation Lightning Thunder expired in mid-March. However, UPDF intelligence officers provide back-up to the Congolese forces and MONUC, who continue the hunt for Kony and his commanders.
Meanwhile, AFP reported on Friday that the LRA rebels killed at least nine civilians in a wave of attacks around Aba.
The agency, quoting the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Kinshasa, said the rebels stormed about 30 villages in a region about 30 kilometres southwest of Aba, killing nine people.
The rebels also kidnapped 16 others, including four children, according to an OCHA statement. A source in the UN High Commission for Refugees said food and non-food products were looted in raids that “led to the displacement of hundreds of people.â€
Sources in UPDF and MONUC, the UN peacekeeping force in Congo, said Ocan Bunia, the commander of one of Kony’s brigades, was killed on April 27 near the town of Aba at the Congo-South Sudan border.
Another LRA officer, George Labongo, a brigade intelligence officer, was killed two days ago in Faradje, one of the larger towns in the region, about 70 km south of Aba.
The news of Bunia’s death was not released earlier because his body first needed to be identified. According to MONUC, his body was dug up on April 29 and recognised by former LRA abductees.
“I am aware Ocan Bunia is dead. The Congolese (army) told us he is dead. Whether through ambush or attack, all we know is that he was killed,†a Ugandan intelligence source said.
The same source said Labongo, also known as the killer of Barlonyo, was shot dead on Saturday evening.
UPDF spokesperson Maj. Felix Kulayigye declined to comment. He said it was up to the Congolese army to brief the media about the ongoing operations since the UPDF had withdrawn from Congo.
Efforts to get any comments from the Congolese army were futile. Bunia was a notorious LRA commander who led many daring attacks in various parts of the country. He was the commander of one of Joseph Kony’s four brigades.
Considered one of Kony’s most trusted commanders, he was promoted to ‘Brigadier’ in April 2005 and was involved in the arrest and execution of Vincent Otti in October 2007.
In August 2003, when the LRA made incursions into Teso region, Bunia commandeered the LRA fighters west of Kapelebyong in Katakwi district.
At the end of 2004, he operated east of Palabek in Kitgum district, where the rebels were expected to assemble during a truce to allow for peace talks led by Betty Bigombe. However, the LRA then used the cease-fire zone to attack surrounding villages.
Labongo, who was the brigade intelligence officer of current army commander Okot Odhiambo, played a leading role in the massacre at Barlonyo IDP camp on April 21, 2004.
About 300 people were hacked, clubbed and burned to death when they were told to hide into their houses by LRA rebels disguised as UPDF soldiers. Earlier, the rebels had overpowered the local army detachment.
In another development, the Congolese, guided by Ugandan intelligence, last week rescued some 100 abductees around Dakwa, a village in north-eastern Congo, 200km from the border with the Central African Republic.
The LRA had attacked the village on June 2. They looted houses, shops, the health centre and the catholic mission, and abducted 200 people who had gathered to mourn a dead villager.
The UPDF pulled out of eastern Congo after the three-month Operation Lightning Thunder expired in mid-March. However, UPDF intelligence officers provide back-up to the Congolese forces and MONUC, who continue the hunt for Kony and his commanders.
Meanwhile, AFP reported on Friday that the LRA rebels killed at least nine civilians in a wave of attacks around Aba.
The agency, quoting the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Kinshasa, said the rebels stormed about 30 villages in a region about 30 kilometres southwest of Aba, killing nine people.
The rebels also kidnapped 16 others, including four children, according to an OCHA statement. A source in the UN High Commission for Refugees said food and non-food products were looted in raids that “led to the displacement of hundreds of people.â€