Sudan Army Takes Over Kony Camps
Jan 10, 2003
SUDANESE government troops will be deployed in camps which Joseph Kony’s Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) rebel group was occupying in southern Sudan to avert any attacks against Uganda.
BY Yunusu Abbey
SUDANESE government troops will be deployed in camps which Joseph Kony’s Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) rebel group was occupying in southern Sudan to avert any attacks against Uganda.
At the same time, the Sudan People’s Armed Forces (SPAF) and the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) will, with immediate effect, deploy liaison officers in Gulu, Juba, Arua and Kitgum to monitor the security situation at the shared border.
These were some of the key issues agreed on this week in a meeting between defence minister Amama Mbabazi and his Sudanese counterpart Gen. Bakri Hassan Saleh.
Bakri, who arrived in Uganda on Wednesday, held bilateral talks with Mbabazi at the defence ministry headquarters in Bombo.
On Thursday, Bakri paid a courtesy call on President Yoweri Museveni in Gulu before flying back home in the evening.
Bakri told journalists at Entebbe Airport shortly before departure that Sudan was committed to the peace efforts and cordial relations existing between Khartoum and Kampala.
“Sudan is ready to co-operate and work with Uganda. But the 1999 Nairobi agreement in which the two countries pledged not to support each other’s rebel group (SPLA and LRA) is still binding and should be upheld,†Bakri said.
A communique issued after the meeting said, “The Sudanese government reiterates its firm position against any contacts by SPAF units with the LRA. It was agreed that a joint mechanism of verifying all information should be discussed in the next meeting in Khartoum.â€
It said Bakri and Mbabazi reviewed the implementation of the agreements and protocols and were satisfied with their progress.
“The Uganda delegation briefed their Sudanese counterparts on the progress regarding Operation Iron Fist and the Sudan delegation made assurances of their support for the operation,†the statement said.
“The Sudanese delegation presented a draft protocol on the implementation of article 4 of the Nairobi Agreement relating to the SPLA for consideration by their Ugandan counterparts,†it added.
The statement said Bakri and Mbabazi reiterated the urgent need to convene the joint ministerial commission this month to discuss some pertinent issues.
Bakri accepted Mbabazi’s invitation to attend the Tarehe Sita (February 6) Army Day celebrations.
Those who accompanied Bakri included Maj. Gen. Muhammad Ali El-Sheikh, director of operations, Maj. Gen. Muhammad Abdelgadir Nasir Aldin, commander of the engineers’ corps, Maj. Gen. Mahjoub Abdallah Sharfi from the military intelligence department and Maj. Gen. Hassab Aldaiem Maragn, the director of protocol.
The Ugandan delegation included Army Commander, Maj. Gen. James Kazini, commander of the Operation Iron Fist Brig. Aronda Nyakairima, First Division commanding officer Brig. Levi Karuhanga and the chief of military intelligence, Col. Noble Mayombo.
Relations between Kampala and Khartoum improved following bilateral talks between Museveni and Sudanese president Gen. Omar Bashir in May 2001.
Bashir attended Museveni’s swearing-in ceremony at Kololo Airstrip.
Libyan leader Col. Muammar Gaddafi played a key role in reconciling the two countries.
Ends
SUDANESE government troops will be deployed in camps which Joseph Kony’s Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) rebel group was occupying in southern Sudan to avert any attacks against Uganda.
At the same time, the Sudan People’s Armed Forces (SPAF) and the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) will, with immediate effect, deploy liaison officers in Gulu, Juba, Arua and Kitgum to monitor the security situation at the shared border.
These were some of the key issues agreed on this week in a meeting between defence minister Amama Mbabazi and his Sudanese counterpart Gen. Bakri Hassan Saleh.
Bakri, who arrived in Uganda on Wednesday, held bilateral talks with Mbabazi at the defence ministry headquarters in Bombo.
On Thursday, Bakri paid a courtesy call on President Yoweri Museveni in Gulu before flying back home in the evening.
Bakri told journalists at Entebbe Airport shortly before departure that Sudan was committed to the peace efforts and cordial relations existing between Khartoum and Kampala.
“Sudan is ready to co-operate and work with Uganda. But the 1999 Nairobi agreement in which the two countries pledged not to support each other’s rebel group (SPLA and LRA) is still binding and should be upheld,†Bakri said.
A communique issued after the meeting said, “The Sudanese government reiterates its firm position against any contacts by SPAF units with the LRA. It was agreed that a joint mechanism of verifying all information should be discussed in the next meeting in Khartoum.â€
It said Bakri and Mbabazi reviewed the implementation of the agreements and protocols and were satisfied with their progress.
“The Uganda delegation briefed their Sudanese counterparts on the progress regarding Operation Iron Fist and the Sudan delegation made assurances of their support for the operation,†the statement said.
“The Sudanese delegation presented a draft protocol on the implementation of article 4 of the Nairobi Agreement relating to the SPLA for consideration by their Ugandan counterparts,†it added.
The statement said Bakri and Mbabazi reiterated the urgent need to convene the joint ministerial commission this month to discuss some pertinent issues.
Bakri accepted Mbabazi’s invitation to attend the Tarehe Sita (February 6) Army Day celebrations.
Those who accompanied Bakri included Maj. Gen. Muhammad Ali El-Sheikh, director of operations, Maj. Gen. Muhammad Abdelgadir Nasir Aldin, commander of the engineers’ corps, Maj. Gen. Mahjoub Abdallah Sharfi from the military intelligence department and Maj. Gen. Hassab Aldaiem Maragn, the director of protocol.
The Ugandan delegation included Army Commander, Maj. Gen. James Kazini, commander of the Operation Iron Fist Brig. Aronda Nyakairima, First Division commanding officer Brig. Levi Karuhanga and the chief of military intelligence, Col. Noble Mayombo.
Relations between Kampala and Khartoum improved following bilateral talks between Museveni and Sudanese president Gen. Omar Bashir in May 2001.
Bashir attended Museveni’s swearing-in ceremony at Kololo Airstrip.
Libyan leader Col. Muammar Gaddafi played a key role in reconciling the two countries.
Ends