Kony end is in the pipeline
Dec 30, 2008
SINCE a joint force of Uganda, Congo (DR) and South Sudan bombarded Kony out of Garamba National park, where Kony and his LRA had hid from 2005, a lot has been said especially by the opposition and the media.
By Moses Byaruhanga
SINCE a joint force of Uganda, Congo (DR) and South Sudan bombarded Kony out of Garamba National park, where Kony and his LRA had hid from 2005, a lot has been said especially by the opposition and the media.
To some, they expected immediate results. President Museveni clarified last week that the operation had been a success. The media expected counted bodies and Kony in hand. That will come now that DR Congo is working hand in hand with the regional forces mentioned above. This was the biggest success.
For the region to agree to work together to rout negative forces hiding in another country. This is a good message for the region and Africa at large.
No rebel group should think that it could have sanctuary in another country while attacking another. That decision alone marks the end of Kony. The rest will be sorted out by the forces on the ground.
It should be remembered that Kony was able to stay on for a long while just because he was supported and sponsored by the Khartoum regime. He would attack civilians in northern Uganda and run to Sudan, which gave him official stay. He was then used to destablise Uganda, and to attack SPLA.
The Sudan gave him sanctuary, armed him, trained his forces, gave them food and all sorts of help. Juba, which is now the headquarters of the South Sudan Government, was Kony’s base at one time like Garamba has been until recently. What happened?
Juba is now in the hands of SPLM/A. Of course Sudan then accused Uganda of its Pan African spirit of giving moral support to SPLM/A which was fighting for a cause of liberation of the black race in the south.
With time the Khartoum regime could not bare it any more, forcing them into negotiations with SPLM/A leading to the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) in January 2005. Under the CPA, among others, the south was to have autonomy under the leadership of SPLM/A.
That marked to end of Kony and LRA. Earlier, the Khartoum regime had allowed UPDF to pursue LRA inside Sudan in an operation code named Iron Fist. Through that operation, Kony’s bases like Rubangatek were destroyed.
A lot of arms were found, food both in store and under cultivation. The arms were given back to the Sudan government. Kony was routed out of the area where UPDF was allowed to operate and he ran to an area above the Red Line where UPDF was not allowed.
The Sudan government had promised that it would deal with LRA if they crossed the Red Line (a boundary marking an area where UPDF could operate).
Later the Khartoum regime through diplomatic engagement allowed UPDF to pursue Kony beyond the red line. This is what resulted into Kony running to Garamba, as he could not contain the UPDF fire.
As pointed out above, with the South Sudan under SPLM/A following the CPA, Kony could no longer use the south of Sudan as a base to attack and destablise northern Uganda. As you may recall that after Kony was routed out of South Sudan, peace returned to northern Uganda. This peace is irreversible.
What has kept Kony lingering around for some time is the fact that he was using foreign territory and physical support to cause mayhem. The Sudan promised not to continue supporting Kony.
That aside, even if he had the support, without territory bordering Uganda it would be difficult for him to launch any attack. If he tried, since he cannot sustain control of any territory on Ugandan soil, he would be finished in no little time. It may be recalled that Kony while in Garamba requested the South Sudan leadership to approach Uganda for peace talks.
This message was delivered by President Salva Kiir of South Sudan when he came for the swearing in ceremony of President Museveni in May 2006. Talks began in July of the same year and were completed two years later. Kony has since refused to sign making excuses all the time. As if that is not bad enough, Kony has continued his old method of attacking innocent civilians, this time in Congo and South Sudan.
The region cannot keep the Kony nonsense any longer. He is now more of a security threat to Congo and South Sudan as he is killing innocent people from those countries.
Hence, a joint force of the three sister states to deal with him. Why there is hope of ending Kony once and for all are three factors; a regional effort that denies him sanctuary, professionalization of the UPDF and the lethal weaponry they now have, Kony is now being attacked in the air and on the ground.
Kony will be pursued until he either surrenders or signs the agreement or he is killed. Without sanctuary and on the move, he has no capacity to rearrange and make war. Besides where is he running to that cannot be reached?
The writer is a special presidential assistant on political affairs
SINCE a joint force of Uganda, Congo (DR) and South Sudan bombarded Kony out of Garamba National park, where Kony and his LRA had hid from 2005, a lot has been said especially by the opposition and the media.
To some, they expected immediate results. President Museveni clarified last week that the operation had been a success. The media expected counted bodies and Kony in hand. That will come now that DR Congo is working hand in hand with the regional forces mentioned above. This was the biggest success.
For the region to agree to work together to rout negative forces hiding in another country. This is a good message for the region and Africa at large.
No rebel group should think that it could have sanctuary in another country while attacking another. That decision alone marks the end of Kony. The rest will be sorted out by the forces on the ground.
It should be remembered that Kony was able to stay on for a long while just because he was supported and sponsored by the Khartoum regime. He would attack civilians in northern Uganda and run to Sudan, which gave him official stay. He was then used to destablise Uganda, and to attack SPLA.
The Sudan gave him sanctuary, armed him, trained his forces, gave them food and all sorts of help. Juba, which is now the headquarters of the South Sudan Government, was Kony’s base at one time like Garamba has been until recently. What happened?
Juba is now in the hands of SPLM/A. Of course Sudan then accused Uganda of its Pan African spirit of giving moral support to SPLM/A which was fighting for a cause of liberation of the black race in the south.
With time the Khartoum regime could not bare it any more, forcing them into negotiations with SPLM/A leading to the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) in January 2005. Under the CPA, among others, the south was to have autonomy under the leadership of SPLM/A.
That marked to end of Kony and LRA. Earlier, the Khartoum regime had allowed UPDF to pursue LRA inside Sudan in an operation code named Iron Fist. Through that operation, Kony’s bases like Rubangatek were destroyed.
A lot of arms were found, food both in store and under cultivation. The arms were given back to the Sudan government. Kony was routed out of the area where UPDF was allowed to operate and he ran to an area above the Red Line where UPDF was not allowed.
The Sudan government had promised that it would deal with LRA if they crossed the Red Line (a boundary marking an area where UPDF could operate).
Later the Khartoum regime through diplomatic engagement allowed UPDF to pursue Kony beyond the red line. This is what resulted into Kony running to Garamba, as he could not contain the UPDF fire.
As pointed out above, with the South Sudan under SPLM/A following the CPA, Kony could no longer use the south of Sudan as a base to attack and destablise northern Uganda. As you may recall that after Kony was routed out of South Sudan, peace returned to northern Uganda. This peace is irreversible.
What has kept Kony lingering around for some time is the fact that he was using foreign territory and physical support to cause mayhem. The Sudan promised not to continue supporting Kony.
That aside, even if he had the support, without territory bordering Uganda it would be difficult for him to launch any attack. If he tried, since he cannot sustain control of any territory on Ugandan soil, he would be finished in no little time. It may be recalled that Kony while in Garamba requested the South Sudan leadership to approach Uganda for peace talks.
This message was delivered by President Salva Kiir of South Sudan when he came for the swearing in ceremony of President Museveni in May 2006. Talks began in July of the same year and were completed two years later. Kony has since refused to sign making excuses all the time. As if that is not bad enough, Kony has continued his old method of attacking innocent civilians, this time in Congo and South Sudan.
The region cannot keep the Kony nonsense any longer. He is now more of a security threat to Congo and South Sudan as he is killing innocent people from those countries.
Hence, a joint force of the three sister states to deal with him. Why there is hope of ending Kony once and for all are three factors; a regional effort that denies him sanctuary, professionalization of the UPDF and the lethal weaponry they now have, Kony is now being attacked in the air and on the ground.
Kony will be pursued until he either surrenders or signs the agreement or he is killed. Without sanctuary and on the move, he has no capacity to rearrange and make war. Besides where is he running to that cannot be reached?
The writer is a special presidential assistant on political affairs