Congo to disarm LRA
Sep 27, 2005
KINSHASA, Monday - The Democratic Republic of Congo’s army said on Sunday it would forcibly disarm 400 Ugandan rebels who have crossed into the northeast of the country and are refusing to lay down their weapons.
KINSHASA, Monday - The Democratic Republic of Congo’s army said on Sunday it would forcibly disarm 400 Ugandan rebels who have crossed into the northeast of the country and are refusing to lay down their weapons.
A regional military commander, General Padiri Bulenda, told Reuters he would have to disarm the LRA rebels to prevent thousands of Ugandan soldiers from crossing the border into the Congo to hunt them down.
Bulenda said he visited the heavily armed rebels on Sunday. The Congo government initially denied any knowledge of the rebels’ presence in its territory.
“There are 400 of these Ugandan Lord’s Resistance Army rebels in Congo and they are armed to the teeth,†Bulenda, commander of the 9th military region, told Reuters by telephone after returning from his reconnaissance mission.
“I am seeking permission to get two battalions (1,400 men) to disarm the rebels, and the UN has said they will provide us with air support.â€
He said the rebels had heavy machine-guns and sophisticated communication equipment.
United Nations peace-keepers also visited the town of Aba, which lies on Congo’s remote northeast border with Uganda and Sudan, and said they had confirmed the presence of at least 300 LRA who were refusing to disarm.
UPDF said LRA deputy leader Vincent Otti sought political asylum in the DR Congo last week under pressure.
Ends
A regional military commander, General Padiri Bulenda, told Reuters he would have to disarm the LRA rebels to prevent thousands of Ugandan soldiers from crossing the border into the Congo to hunt them down.
Bulenda said he visited the heavily armed rebels on Sunday. The Congo government initially denied any knowledge of the rebels’ presence in its territory.
“There are 400 of these Ugandan Lord’s Resistance Army rebels in Congo and they are armed to the teeth,†Bulenda, commander of the 9th military region, told Reuters by telephone after returning from his reconnaissance mission.
“I am seeking permission to get two battalions (1,400 men) to disarm the rebels, and the UN has said they will provide us with air support.â€
He said the rebels had heavy machine-guns and sophisticated communication equipment.
United Nations peace-keepers also visited the town of Aba, which lies on Congo’s remote northeast border with Uganda and Sudan, and said they had confirmed the presence of at least 300 LRA who were refusing to disarm.
UPDF said LRA deputy leader Vincent Otti sought political asylum in the DR Congo last week under pressure.
Ends