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Ugandan troops pursue LRA into Sudan
Thousands of UPDF soldiers on the weekend rolled into eastern Equatoria province in southern Sudan in pursuit of Kony rebels. "The current geo-political climate is clearly against Kony rebels who must not be given chance to re-organise to return to kill our people," the source said. Sources said UPDF soldiers were on search-and-hit operations around Imotong and Upper Talanga areas along the Sudan-Uganda border.Last week, Sudan renewed by three months the protocol permitting Ugandan soldiers to operate in Sudan. The protocol, which was first signed in April 2001, allows Uganda to operate in the SPLA-held territory of that region which covers Magwi and parts of Torit district. It is not known whether the renewal of the agreement allows the UPDF to use helicopter gunships inside Sudan. The initial agreement did not. A string of recent army victories is attributed to the accuracy of the Mi-24 helicopter gunship. In the past five months the gunship killed two LRA army commanders Brigadiers Charles Tabuley and Yardin Nyeko and spy chief Brig. Caeser Accellam. Intelligence sources yesterday said the recent events inside Sudan were working in favour of the UPDF. Two weeks ago LRA attacked the Sudan Peopleâs Liberation Army (SPLA) between Lire and Mangala as the Ugandan rebels were fleeing from Sudan government army who were pursuing them. Sources said the UPDF is expected to face stiff challenge as Imotong mountains have over 50 caves which are supplied with water springs. "We suspect that LRA will hide in those caves, take low profile and lay ambushes in bid to stop UPDF from reaching the caves," the sources said. Posted by: Dan Darling 2004-03-16 |
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