Rebel LRA chief orders fighters to return to southern Sudan
KAMPALA, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) — Rebel Lords Resistance Army (LRA) chief Joseph Kony has ordered his commanders and fighters to return to his southern Sudan base in Nisito, according to state-owned weekly Sunday Vision.
Kony’s directive comes barely days after some of his fighters responded to limited Ugandan government ceasefire terms of gathering in gazetted areas ordered by President Yoweri Museveni on Nov. 14.
The Ugandan army’s 503rd Brigade Commander Lt. Col. Amooti Ndawula was quoted as saying that Kony had issued the directive toforestall the peace process now underway.
An LRA defector named Ottim Saturday told the official newspaper that some LRA fighters were moving towards southern Sudan while a few of them were gathering in the gazetted areas.
Among the commanders now in the gazetted areas are Kony’s deputy Vincent Otti and rebel’s chief of staff Owor Lakati.
It is unclear whether the two commanders will respond to Kony’sdirective or pursue the peace option, Ottim said.
Meanwhile, Ugandan Defense Minister Amama Mbabazi on Saturday confirmed having received information about Kony’s new directive.
Amama said that Kony had requested that the peace zone be extended to southern Sudan, adding that the government is studyingwhether the withdrawal is related to this request.
On Nov. 14, President Museveni declared a seven-day ceasefire with the LRA rebels for peace talks between the government and therebel group.
The Ugandan army has withdrawn its 15,000 troops from the 300 square miles gazetted areas in the north following the declarationof the ceasefire.
A large of LRA rebels have started gathering in the gazetted areas after the withdrawal of government troops.