Sudan protecting Uganda’s LRA rebels – ICG

Jan 11, 2006 (NAIROBI) — Despite an international arrest warrant and new military push against Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) leaders, Sudan continues to shelter members of Uganda’s notoriously brutal rebel group, a think-tank said on Wednesday.

Ugandan infantry convoy hunt for LRA rebels, near Aruu junction, 40 miles from Juba, southern Sudan, in 2002

As one of the world’s worst and most neglected wars enters its 20th year, the conflict which has shattered northern Uganda shows “no end in sight,” the influential International Crisis Group (ICG) added in a report released to Reuters in Nairobi.

Led by self-proclaimed prophet Joseph Kony, the LRA uprising has uprooted more than 1.6 million people, killed tens of thousands and diverted scarce funds needed to fight poverty in the east African nation of 27 million people.

Arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) in October for Kony and four other LRA leaders heightened diplomatic pressure to end the conflict. The group is known for cruel tactics of cutting off lips, ears and limbs of victims.

But the ICC has no power of its own to execute warrants and despite renewed Ugandan army efforts, the LRA has upped attacks, including on foreign aid workers, and stayed elusive.

The ICG report castigated Uganda’s northern neighbour Sudan for supporting Kony and others assumed to be hiding there.

“There are credible reports that elements of Sudanese military intelligence still aid them,” the report said.

“Kony’s location roughly 100 km north of Juba indicates he is still being given sanctuary by elements in the government.”

Khartoum was accused of backing the LRA during its long war against southern Sudanese rebels that ended in 2005. Since the ICC warrants, Khartoum has allowed Ugandan troops deeper into Sudan in pursuit of the rebels. It denies aiding the LRA.

“Khartoum now admits that the LRA was given sanctuary and logistical support as part of a destabilisation strategy and scorched earth campaign against southern Sudanese civilians but says that any continuing assistance no longer reflects official policy,” the ICG said.

“KHARTOUM PROTECTS KONY”

But the LRA remains “a tempting tool” for Khartoum to use in the south, the think-tank said. Ugandan army commanders suspect Kony and his fighters are receiving direct support including tipoffs prior to military operations against them.

“Khartoum will still protect him (Kony), and the LRA couldn’t survive without Sudan’s protection,” ICG quoted a Ugandan security official as saying.

To tackle the crisis, the ICG’s recommendations included:

– Adding “military punch” to pursuit of LRA by building up special units in Ugandan military and former rebel Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM).

– Considering use of roughly 100-strong, helicopter-backed elite tactical unit from third country to capture indicted LRA leades or “shock” rebels into giving up.

– Ensure Ugandan army prioritises protection of civilians and government tries those accused of rights abuses.

– “Repackage” stalling government peace initiative to offer different deals for indicted and non-indicted LRA commanders as well as more incentives for rank-and-file rebels to give up.

– Forceful U.N. Security Council action including appointment of “UN envoy of stature”.

– Establishment of truth and reconciliation commission.

While international attention on Uganda of late has focused more on its upcoming February 23 election — where President Yoweri is seeking to extend his two-decade rule — the LRA has been increasingly active in Uganda and Sudan.

Moving in small units of three to 15 to avoid detection, according to the ICG, the LRA has carried out a string of ambushes and killings of aid workers, civilians and soldiers.

“By shifting its focus from kidnapping — child abductions and mutilations are decreasing — to road ambushes, which receive more media attention, it is demonstrating that it remains a lethal enemy,” the ICG added.

(Reuters)

Full text of ICG report is available at http://www.crisisgroup.org/home/index.cfm?l=1&id=3864