Uganda- exclusive

CAR joins Kony manhunt

Article published on the 2009-01-22 Latest update 2009-01-22 17:31 TU

Uganda army special forces alight from an assault helicopter during an operation against the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) camp in Democratic Republic of Congo in December 2008
(Photo: Reuters)

Ugandan officials have told RFI on Thursday that the Central African Republic has agreed to cooperate in joint military operations with the Ugandan army against the rebel Lord's Resistance Army, which has operated from north-eastern Democratic Republic of Congo and occasionally crossed into Central African Republic. RFI has learnt that Ugandan Security Minister Amama Mbabazi has just concluded a meeting in Bangui with CAR officials who agreed to deploy troops on their border with the DRC to block any attempts by the Ugandan rebels to cross into the CAR.

The development comes as the DRC said it has agreed to let Ugandan troops remain in its country to hunt rebels for 21 more days.

Ugandan forces entered DRC on 14 December to flush out the Lord's Resistance Army under Joseph Kony and officials say the mandate for joint operations could be extended once more.

Captain Deo Akiiki, the spokesman for the Ugandan army operations in the DRC said LRA leader Joseph Kony has less room for maneouvring now.

"Kony, if he was clever enough, he would either surrender, go to the designated area of Ri-Kwangba and sign the peace agreement," said Captain Akiiki. "If he continues fighting I don't believe he will succeed anyway. This is a different situation, a different territory and the successes against the LRA are evident," he added.

Akiiki said that he he knows Kony is aware of the military presence, and claims that the LRA has no food because the Ugandan troops have destroyed their camps.

"I don't see where Kony's hiding. I am sure he will not get any other safe haven, not in the DRC, Southern Sudan or the Central African Republic," he said.

"So we see an end to the LRA," he added, saying that he needs to either sign the agreement or surrender to the Ugandan forces.

Ugandan troops are stationed across the border in Southern Sudan, said Akiiki, and in the DRC, and both countries are helping in the operation.

"We will not be diverted by LRA's tricks of breaking into two parts but we know where the main part of LRA is and we will go for them," said Akiiki.

When asked about the LRA attacks on civilians in Province Orientale in the northeastern part of the DRC, Akiiki said that although Kony's milita had gone on a "rampage" the Ugandan troops have put pressure on them.

"Because of the pressure we are putting on them because of the many fighting squads we are having in their jungles" the attacks on civilians have stopped, he said.

This halt in attacks has not calmed the residents of the area, however. "Frightened people continue to move out of their villages but at the moment at least we have all fighting mechanisms put in place to ensure that these destructions are not done," said Akiiki.