Sudan Extends Kony Operation

By Felix OsikeSUDAN has again extended the period granted to the Uganda People’s Defence Forces to hunt for the Lord’s Resistance Army rebels inside Southern Sudan.The Chief of Military Intelligence, Col. Noble Mayombo, was in Khartoum last weekend to re-negotiate the extension. “We have been given more time. We are operating there legally,” he told The New Vision. Both Mayombo and Army Spokesman Maj. Shaban Bantariza gave no details “The protocol is on. We are continuing with the operations,” said Bantariza.The Sudanese Charge D’Affaires in Kampala, Mohammed Sirajuddin, said he had no details. This is the third extension since the Operation against LRA rebels began in March. Under the terms of the March agreement, defence officials from both countries on recommendation from the liaison officers based in Juba, are to review the operation from time to time. Sudan initially allowed UPDF on its soil for a 30-day operation. But this was later extended to May 19 and June 30 respectively. But both deadlines have not yielded the desired results of capturing or killing Kony and his forces believed to be scattered over Imatong hills in Southern Sudan.Ends