US hails raid on LRA

Apr 03, 2002

THE US government has backed the on-going military operation by the Uganda People’s Defence Forces, against the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) rebels in Southern Sudan.

By Felix OsikeTHE US government has backed the on-going military operation by the Uganda People’s Defence Forces, against the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) rebels in Southern Sudan.Defence minister Amama Mbabazi on Saturday said “they support it,” and added that other friendly countries to Uganda had also been informed of the operation.The LRA led by Joseph Kony and the Allied Democratic Forces is listed as an international terrorist organisation alongside the al Qeada network of Saudi dissident and America’s most wanted man, Osama Bin Laden.Mbabazi said Uganda had not sought for material support from any nation.He said on Friday the operation would be limited to the approved defence ministry budget. “It will not affect our budgetary provisions, but we will have to do a bit of adjustments. Some activities may have to wait for the next financial year,” he said.The UPDF launched a military offensive on LRA camps on Thursday, following a protocol signed between Uganda and Sudan.By Friday, the UPDF had captured five camps and recovered several weapons. The captured camps are Lara, Orek, Rwot Kempaco, Lubangatek and Bin Rwot, located about 90km from the Uganda border and covering an estimated area of 100 square kilometres. The rebels had stocked enough food for six months.The operation involves destroying LRA camps and rescuing children who are in Kony’s captivity. Mbabazi said Kony’s entire force had moved from their enclave near Juba to the south, towards Uganda border.The Sudanese People’s Armed Forces (SPAF) have also sealed off the northern exit route for Kony forcing him to flee towards the Sudanese People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) controlled areas.SPLA has also allowed the UPDF to use its territories for the operations.

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