UPDF Stops Congo Pullout

By Emmy Allio THE Army leadership has stopped the planned withdrawal of its remaining soldiers and heavy equipment from the Congolese towns of Gbadolite, Buta and Banalia. The Army Commander, Lt. Gen. Jeje Odongo, yesterday confirmed the change of decision. “Yes, we are not pulling out now,” he said. The army last week ordered the withdrawal of its troops and equipment from Gbadolite, Buta and Banalia. It said the battalion in Buta was to reinforce the UPDF soldiers in Bunia. Sources said the surprise weekend agreement between Uganda-backed Congolese Liberation Front of Jean Pierre Bemba and the Rwanda-backed RCD-Goma rebels of Adolphe Onusumba influenced the stoppage of the troops pullout. “Bemba’s decision to ally with the Goma group and Kigali authorities could have been triggered by many factors, including his misinterpretation of the UPDF pullout of troops from areas under his control. It is possible he thought Uganda was deserting him,” a security source said. Ends