Uganda’s LRA rebels loot machetes in South Sudan
April 23, 2008 (KAMPLA) — The Ugandan rebel Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) looted machetes and hoes from south of Yambio, the capital city of West Equatoria, the governor of the state, an Ugandan daily reported.
Joseph Ngere, the governor of Western Equatoria state told the Ugandan Daily Monitor on Tuesday that the rebels had also abducted three Sudanese nationals in what is believed to be a mass movement towards Central African Republic (CAR) where the LRA established a base in March.
“Yesterday, a big group of LRA passed 24km south of Yambio town and abducted three people but two managed to escape,” Mr Ngere said yesterday.
The LRA had requested similar equipment from Caritas, a charitable organisation which was charged with supplying them, but the request was rejected.
They asked for machetes, hoes and building material but the request was turned down because such equipment were deemed war tools, said Caritas’ liaison officer in South Sudan, Davis Lubwama.
LRA has in the past used machetes to kill civilians. Peace talks between Uganda’s government and Joseph Kony, the fugitive leader of the LRA, collapsed earlier this month after Kony failed to appear at a planned meeting.
Peace talks between Uganda’s government and Joseph Kony, the fugitive leader of the Lord’s Resistance Army, collapsed earlier this month after Kony failed to appear at a planned meeting.
Northern Uganda’s civil war killed tens of thousands of people and uprooted 2 million more. It also destabilised parts of Sudan’s oil-producing south and mineral-rich eastern Congo.
Hopes of an end to one of Africa’s longest conflicts were dashed when Kony failed to emerge from hiding for a peace deal signing ceremony on April 10 on the remote Sudan-Congo border.
Amnesty International urged on Tuesday Congo, Sudan and Central African Republic to join forces to free more than 350 people kidnapped in recent weeks by Ugandan rebels.
“These people — including scores of women and children — are likely to be used as child combatants and sex slaves, and yet none of the governments in the region have done anything to try to secure their release,” the rights group said.
“The governments of Sudan, the CAR and the DRC — with the assistance of the U.N. — must join forces to secure the safety and release of those kidnapped immediately and bring those responsible to justice.” Amnesty added.
(ST)