Uganda Asks UN For Kisangani Airport Base

UGANDA has written to the United Nations seeking permission to use the Democratic Republic of Congo's Bangoka Airport in Kisangani, to pull out part of the country an estimated 1,500 troops, reports Emmy Allio. Kisangani is a demilitarised city under the control of the UN. Army spokesman, Lt Col. Phinehas Katirima said, "Uganda has decided on another withdrawal of two more battalions from Congo pursuant to the Lusaka Agreement." Katirima said the pulling out of 65th and 77th battalions from Bafwasende and Beni will start immediately. President Yoweri Museveni on April 4, praised the peace initiative spearheaded by Congolese President Joseph Kabila and said Uganda would pull out two more battalions from Congo as a good gesture. Katirima said the 65th battalion was located in the diamond-mining regions of Bafwasende and Bafwabooli, about 200kms northeast of Kisangani, with no road access to the Ugandan border and no international airport. "The only way is for us to use Kisangani's Airport," he said. The withdrawal of two more battalions from the Congo brings to nine battalions or about 6,500 soldiers, that Uganda has withdrawn since last August. A battalion is about 750 soldiers. But Katirima said units of Ugandan soldiers will continue keeping security in several airports in northeastern Congo because of threats from Sudan and Kinshasa. "We shall effect complete withdrawal if UN peacekeepers are deployed in Congo," Katirima said. An official of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' international relations department said the Government had written to the UN Security Council requesting access to Bangoka airport, the scene of three bitter battles between Rwandan and Ugandan troops in August 1999 and again in May 2000. "As far as we are concerned, Kisangani is a demilitarised zone under the control of MONUC, the UN observer mission in Congo. MONUC was sent to Congo by the Security Council," the official said. The official said there was no international airport in Beni or Bafwasende where large planes ferrying troops and equipment could land. Last month, Uganda withdrew the 31st and 7th battalions from Buta and Gemena respectively. Last August, the Government pulled out an estimated 4,000 soldiers from 3rd, 5th, 9th, 67th and 75th battalion. Most of these have now been deployed to the programme of disarmament in Karamoja. The 15th and 51st battalions from Beni and Bunia were pulled out in 1999. Rwanda last week ordered the withdrawal of 1,000 soldiers and Zimbabwe 5,000 of its 11,000 troops. Ends