DR Congo halts Uganda border project
Jun 14, 2009
CONGOLESE authorities have halted the construction of a Police post in the disputed area near Goli customs point in Nebbi district.
By Frank Mugabi
CONGOLESE authorities have halted the construction of a Police post in the disputed area near Goli customs point in Nebbi district.
The post was being built within 50metres of Goli, a buffer zone.
Nebbi resident district commissioner Betty Adima said the two-week construction project was halted over the weekend.
The move comes barely a week after senior officials from Mahagi territory told their Ugandan counterparts at meeting at Goli that they would continue erecting the post.
Despite being a border area that both countries had agreed to verify through a joint permanent commission, the Congolese authorities argued that they were acting within their land. Adima said the halt could have resulted from diplomatic pressure.
“It is not yet clear why they stopped the construction, but we think they were advised by Kinshasa to respect the high level diplomatic efforts underway,†she said.
Sources revealed that the security officers who were guarding the builders had been withdrawn, adding that military vehicles were intermittently patrolling the area.
Under the Ngurdoto-Tanzania Agreement, presidents Yoweri Museveni and Joseph Kabila of the DR Congo agreed to re-mark the contested border areas to determine ownership.
The agreement, signed at a summit in Arusha last September, had called upon the two states to maintain the status quo in the areas of dispute until the commission comes up with findings.
However, the Congolese unilaterally started constructing new posts at Goli and also near the Ugandan crossing point at Vurra in Arua district.
In both incidences, Ugandan authorities have resorted to diplomatic negotiations to solve the standoffs.
Adima said Uganda would use diplomatic means until a common understanding is reached.
She added that life was going on normally for the locals, adding that Ugandan authorities were monitoring the situation.
CONGOLESE authorities have halted the construction of a Police post in the disputed area near Goli customs point in Nebbi district.
The post was being built within 50metres of Goli, a buffer zone.
Nebbi resident district commissioner Betty Adima said the two-week construction project was halted over the weekend.
The move comes barely a week after senior officials from Mahagi territory told their Ugandan counterparts at meeting at Goli that they would continue erecting the post.
Despite being a border area that both countries had agreed to verify through a joint permanent commission, the Congolese authorities argued that they were acting within their land. Adima said the halt could have resulted from diplomatic pressure.
“It is not yet clear why they stopped the construction, but we think they were advised by Kinshasa to respect the high level diplomatic efforts underway,†she said.
Sources revealed that the security officers who were guarding the builders had been withdrawn, adding that military vehicles were intermittently patrolling the area.
Under the Ngurdoto-Tanzania Agreement, presidents Yoweri Museveni and Joseph Kabila of the DR Congo agreed to re-mark the contested border areas to determine ownership.
The agreement, signed at a summit in Arusha last September, had called upon the two states to maintain the status quo in the areas of dispute until the commission comes up with findings.
However, the Congolese unilaterally started constructing new posts at Goli and also near the Ugandan crossing point at Vurra in Arua district.
In both incidences, Ugandan authorities have resorted to diplomatic negotiations to solve the standoffs.
Adima said Uganda would use diplomatic means until a common understanding is reached.
She added that life was going on normally for the locals, adding that Ugandan authorities were monitoring the situation.