Museveni warns DRC rebel boss
Jun 24, 2004
PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni has vowed to arrest renegade Congolese rebel leader Gen. Laurent Nkunda should he enter Uganda.<br>
By Felix Osike and Agencies
PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni has vowed to arrest renegade Congolese rebel leader Gen. Laurent Nkunda should he enter Uganda.
Museveni (right) issued the warning yesterday at a meeting with the European Union ambassadors at State House Nakasero, sources said.
“Nkunda has not entered Uganda. Anybody who wants to introduce new guns in the DR Congo will be an enemy of the Congolese people and will not be supported,†Museveni said.
In a statement, State House dismissed allegations that Uganda had links with Nkunda.
Museveni described groups such as Nkunda’s as “adventurists†which Uganda would not support.
Uganda was one of half a dozen African countries that sent troops into DR Congo during the war, which broke out in 1998.
Museveni’s remarks followed unsubstantiated press reports that Nkunda was in Kampala and had met top defence officials.
Defence minister Amama Mbabazi told Parliament on Wednesday that Nkunda was not in Uganda.
The DRC town of Bukavu, near the Rwandan border, was the scene of recent clashes between dissident soldiers, who have refused to be incorporated into the new army, and government troops. The dissidents overran and held Bukavu, at the border with Rwanda, for a week in early June.
A dissident leader, Col. Jules Mutebesi, fled to Rwanda on Monday with 300 men after fresh fighting broke out in Kamanyola, a border town, between the renegade soldiers and the army.
Yesterday, Museveni said he was opposed to any derailment of the peace process in Congo and was keen on the holding of elections there.
“President Museveni re-affirmed Uganda’s position that supports a transitional government that will pave way for elections in that country,†the statement said.
Museveni said he had communicated his position to the UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan and Congo President Joseph Kabila.
Museveni briefed the envoys on the security situation in northern Uganda as well as the democratisation process.
He said 936 rebels had been killed, 1,729 captives rescued, 644 surrendered and arms captured since January this year.
The UN Security Council on Tuesday told Uganda, Burundi and especially Rwanda, not to interfere in the Congo.
Museveni said all stakeholders in the Congo peace process must stick to the Lusaka Agreement, which provides a framework to settling contentious issues.
He said factions in the highly volatile north-eastern Ituri region should be included in the transitional government.
Ends
PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni has vowed to arrest renegade Congolese rebel leader Gen. Laurent Nkunda should he enter Uganda.
Museveni (right) issued the warning yesterday at a meeting with the European Union ambassadors at State House Nakasero, sources said.
“Nkunda has not entered Uganda. Anybody who wants to introduce new guns in the DR Congo will be an enemy of the Congolese people and will not be supported,†Museveni said.
In a statement, State House dismissed allegations that Uganda had links with Nkunda.
Museveni described groups such as Nkunda’s as “adventurists†which Uganda would not support.
Uganda was one of half a dozen African countries that sent troops into DR Congo during the war, which broke out in 1998.
Museveni’s remarks followed unsubstantiated press reports that Nkunda was in Kampala and had met top defence officials.
Defence minister Amama Mbabazi told Parliament on Wednesday that Nkunda was not in Uganda.
The DRC town of Bukavu, near the Rwandan border, was the scene of recent clashes between dissident soldiers, who have refused to be incorporated into the new army, and government troops. The dissidents overran and held Bukavu, at the border with Rwanda, for a week in early June.
A dissident leader, Col. Jules Mutebesi, fled to Rwanda on Monday with 300 men after fresh fighting broke out in Kamanyola, a border town, between the renegade soldiers and the army.
Yesterday, Museveni said he was opposed to any derailment of the peace process in Congo and was keen on the holding of elections there.
“President Museveni re-affirmed Uganda’s position that supports a transitional government that will pave way for elections in that country,†the statement said.
Museveni said he had communicated his position to the UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan and Congo President Joseph Kabila.
Museveni briefed the envoys on the security situation in northern Uganda as well as the democratisation process.
He said 936 rebels had been killed, 1,729 captives rescued, 644 surrendered and arms captured since January this year.
The UN Security Council on Tuesday told Uganda, Burundi and especially Rwanda, not to interfere in the Congo.
Museveni said all stakeholders in the Congo peace process must stick to the Lusaka Agreement, which provides a framework to settling contentious issues.
He said factions in the highly volatile north-eastern Ituri region should be included in the transitional government.
Ends