Kony trying to enter DRC â€" captive
Mar 10, 2006
LRA leader Joseph Kony is trying to cross the Nile in Sudan to join his deputy, Vincent Otti, in the DR Congo, Richard Odong, a 2nd lieutenant of the LRA who was captured by UPDF, said on Wednesday. With 25 fighters, led by LRA commander Ben Accellam, Odong was on his way to receive Kony on the Yei
By Emmy Allio
LRA leader Joseph Kony is trying to cross the Nile in Sudan to join his deputy, Vincent Otti, in the DR Congo, Richard Odong, a 2nd lieutenant of the LRA who was captured by UPDF, said on Wednesday. With 25 fighters, led by LRA commander Ben Accellam, Odong was on his way to receive Kony on the Yei-Juba Road, east of the town of Yei, when they were hit by UPDF gunships. Odong said he lost the group and followed foot marks, which led him to a burning car that the rebels had just ambushed. He later fell into the hands of a UPDF foot patrol. “We were informed Kony wanted to cross the river Nile,†said the 25-year-old LRA soldier, still dressed in military uniform, shortly after his capture.
“We were sent by Otti from Garamba National Park to go and receive him. We did not know his exact location but the commander kept in touch with him by radio and satellite phone,†Odong said.
He said Otti intented to stay in Congo.
“Life in Garamba was fine. We were living on antelope, elephant and buffalo meat.
Every two weeks, we would cross into Sudan to loot villages. And we were not disturbed by anybody. Since we entered Congo last September, we were only attacked twice. Once by the UN forces, when we killed eight of them, and once by SPLA,†he said. Odong said they move from one place to another in order to avoid being detected by the helicopter, which sometimes flies over the area.
He said there are not many people living in the park, so there is no real threat.
Nevertheless, they were given instructions by Otti not to harass Congolese people.
He said they crossed into Congo with 150 fighters and the women and children stayed behind in Sudan with Kony and Odhiambo.
“There were only two ting ting (young girls) with Otti. They crossed the river Nile floating on jerrycans,†he said.
Ends
LRA leader Joseph Kony is trying to cross the Nile in Sudan to join his deputy, Vincent Otti, in the DR Congo, Richard Odong, a 2nd lieutenant of the LRA who was captured by UPDF, said on Wednesday. With 25 fighters, led by LRA commander Ben Accellam, Odong was on his way to receive Kony on the Yei-Juba Road, east of the town of Yei, when they were hit by UPDF gunships. Odong said he lost the group and followed foot marks, which led him to a burning car that the rebels had just ambushed. He later fell into the hands of a UPDF foot patrol. “We were informed Kony wanted to cross the river Nile,†said the 25-year-old LRA soldier, still dressed in military uniform, shortly after his capture.
“We were sent by Otti from Garamba National Park to go and receive him. We did not know his exact location but the commander kept in touch with him by radio and satellite phone,†Odong said.
He said Otti intented to stay in Congo.
“Life in Garamba was fine. We were living on antelope, elephant and buffalo meat.
Every two weeks, we would cross into Sudan to loot villages. And we were not disturbed by anybody. Since we entered Congo last September, we were only attacked twice. Once by the UN forces, when we killed eight of them, and once by SPLA,†he said. Odong said they move from one place to another in order to avoid being detected by the helicopter, which sometimes flies over the area.
He said there are not many people living in the park, so there is no real threat.
Nevertheless, they were given instructions by Otti not to harass Congolese people.
He said they crossed into Congo with 150 fighters and the women and children stayed behind in Sudan with Kony and Odhiambo.
“There were only two ting ting (young girls) with Otti. They crossed the river Nile floating on jerrycans,†he said.
Ends