DRC deploys at Vurra border

By Proscovia Acan

THE Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has deployed more policemen near the disputed border point with Uganda at Vurra in Arua district following a three-week standoff that led to the closure of the border.

The standoff was triggered by a group of Congolese youth early last month after they extended the barrier at Vurra customs border post by 300 meters inside Uganda. 

The youth then embarked on building structures for a parking yard in the area, claiming it was part of Congolese territory. 

On Monday however, some Congolese soldiers were seen along the borderline. 

Responding to the deployment on Tuesday, Arua Resident District Commissioner Peter Dibele told New Vision that the Congolese had deployed police to restore peace at the border. 

“They have deployed more police at the border in order to restore peace since these militias are the trouble makers who caused the border conflict” said Dibele.

During a meeting with their Ugandan counterparts last week, the Congolese authorities said they were overwhelmed by the militia who had taken over the borderline.

“When we sat with them last week (the Congolese authorities) said they were overwhelmed by the militia. So it will take a bit of time to send them off,” said Dibele.

He maintained that the UPDF and police were also at the border to watch over the security along the border.

He also said Uganda will not undermine the bilateral agreement that was signed between presidents Yoweri Museveni and Joseph Kabila over the area in 2007.  

That declaration also known as the Ngurdoto Agreement froze development activities on the disputed stretch of land. Following the deployments, a sense of calm has since been restored in the area though the border remains closed. 

Last week, Ugandan customs officials rerouted all cargo traffic to Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) from Vurra customs border point to Goli in Nebbi district or Lia and Odramachaku in the extreme end of Arua close to Maracha. 

The acting manager Uganda Revenue Authority Northern Uganda, Caleb Kamara said no vehicles are allowed to cross the country since the revenue body has channeled all transit trucks to pass through Goli customs.

“We had to escort them since some of the trucks are carrying dangerous chemicals that can cause harm or the drivers could decide to dump it in the country,” Kamara said.

The detour has greatly affected drivers destined to Kibali gold site in DRC. On average it takes them five hours to get there, however through Goli customs border point it can take them up to three days to reach the gold mining site.

The LC1 chairman of Ezuku Ayivu village in Vurra sub county, Michael Odipio noted that business had affected the Congolese since motorcyclists are seen ferrying fuel into the country. The price of fuel has risen to sh15,000 from sh5000.

Businessmen have been using the Vurra customs border as the main route for cross-border trade to access Aru town in DRC. They have been using the route to especially transport food stuffs and construction materials.

Conflict timeline

An Anglo-Belgian Agreement which came into force on February 3, 1915, accorded official recognition to the present boundary of Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Earlier in 1913, a Sudanese/Uganda Commission delimited the common boundary on the ground between Bahr al Jabal to the north and the then Belgian Congo tripoint, near the present day Ariwara in DRC.

The new boundaries were officially promulgated on April 21, 1914 by the British Government.

The current border conflict flared early last month, after some Congolese youth extended the barrier at Vurra customs border post about 300 meters into the Ugandan territory and erected some structures.

According to Congolese youth they were opening up the land in the area they regarded as no-man's land for the construction of a parking yard.  

In 2007, development activities on the disputed stretch were frozen by a declaration from President Yoweri Museveni and his Congolese counterpart Joseph Kabila in the Ngurdoto Agreement following their meeting in Arusha, Tanzania.