Ugandan rebels re-enter DRCongo, abduct three – report

Nov 26, 2005 (KAMPALA) — Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) rebels have re-entered the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) from Sudan and abducted three Congolese gold prospectors in the Garamba region, in the northeast.

“They came from Sudan. Witnesses said they kidnapped three Congolese gold prospectors, probably to act as porters,” said Gen Constantine Ndima, the regional commander of the Congolese army (FARDC).

“We have not seen ourselves but since 12 November, rangers in the Garamba park have reported the presence of 20 to 50 LRA rebels in the northeast of the park,” Ndima said.

He said the DRCongo military was sending forces to check the reports, in cooperation with the United Nations Mission (MONUC). The latest reports come three weeks after MONUC said it had sent 150 troops to the Aba region near the Sudanese border to keep the LRA out.

Recently, the Uganda Chief of Defence Forces, Gen Aronda Nyakairima, said there are about 50 LRA rebels with their families in the Garamba region.

MONUC’s military spokesperson Lt-Col Thierry Provendier recently said in cooperation with the Congolese army, the UN soldiers would “search for rebels along the border and disarm them if their presence is proved”.

(New Vision/ST)