Ugandan rebels move to Central African Republic – Congo

January 2, 2009 (KINSHASA) — Fierce attacks by the Ugandan, Congolese and southern Sudanese troops pushed the rebel Lord’s Resistance Army to move toward Central African Republic, Congo’s government said Friday.

The tripartite military assault was launched on the bases Lord’s Resistance Army rebel group’s bases in Congo’s Garamba National Park on December 14. The peace talks mediation said the attack means to push the elusive rebel leader to sign a peace deal brokered by southern Sudan.

The deputy governor of RDC’s Orientale Province, Joseph Bangakya said that the Ugandan rebels have moved to the CAR after suffering heavy losses

“The LRA has been routed,” said Bangakya, whose vast and isolated province spanning the Ugandan and Sudanese borders has been the target of the military operation that began in mid-December

The conflict has spilled into Sudan and Congo, which suffered back-to-back civil wars from 1996 to 2002 that drew neighboring countries into what became a rush to plunder Congo’s massive mineral wealth.

Since Dec. 25 in northeastern Congo, the Ugandan rebels have killed more than 400 people in a series of massacres, according to Catholic charity group Caritas, which cited its staff in the region. Caritas said its employees identified the rebels by their dreadlocked hair and Acholi language.

Informed by Congo of the rebels’ approach, the Central Africa has deployed soldiers along its border to prevent the rebels from crossing.

However, the CAR defense minister Jean-Francis Bozize told reporters in Bangui that “There has not yet been any significant warning of the presence of the LRA on Central African territory, I can assure you of that.”

The leader of the Ugandan rebel movement refused to sign the peace deal asking Ugandan government to suspend the ICC arrest warrant against him before. Joseph Kony and other leading rebels are indicted by the World court of war crimes and crimes against humanity.

(ST)