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| Africa Subsaharan |
| Ugandan army claims LRA rebels and leaders in CAR |
| 2007-02-25 |
| Uganda's army said Friday that 400 rebel Lord's Resistance Army fighters and their leaders have moved into the Central African Republic, dashing hopes of a renewal of stalled peace talks. "The LRA leaders Joseph Kony and Vincent Otti crossed (into CAR) with their fighters," army spokesman Major Felix Kulaije told AFP by telephone. The northern Ugandan rebels had entered the CAR earlier this week through Tambura in southern Sudan, which has borders with both countries, and started to link up with local rebel groups. "We have information that they crossed over to the CAR early in the week and we are still monitoring this," Kulaije said. "This means prolonging the problem, frustrating the peace process, further violating the cessation of hostility agreement and making the whole affair a regional problem." The LRA denied the accusation, stating that the move would not be in their interest. "There is no military gain in moving to the Central African Republic at the moment," LRA spokesman Obonyo Olweny told AFP in Nairobi by telephone. The LRA has refused to resume peace talks with the Ugandan government in the southern Sudanese capital Juba, expressing safety fears and accusing the chief Sudanese mediator of bias. A truce agreement between Kampala and the rebels is due to expire at the end of the month. Kulaije said that Uganda was prepared to extend the agreement, but that the LRA delegation needed to come to Juba. |
| Posted by:Fred |