Uganda LRA top commander reportedly captured in DRC
January 28, 2009 (KAMPALA) — Ugandan military forces have reportedly managed to capture a senior commander from the Lord Resistance Army (LRA) as he was attempting to flee the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
The Ugandan State radio quoting unidentified sources said that LRA second in command Okot Odhiambo was surrounded by “allied forces” at the Garamba Forest in Eastern Congo.
The rebel commander is believed to have announced his intention to defect and turn himself in provided he is promised immunity from prosecution by the International Criminal Court (ICC).
He told Agence France Presse (AFP) that he suffered a serious gunshot wound in recent clashes.
“I’m defecting” said Odhiambo, deputy to LRA leader Joseph Kony. “We have requested a safe corridor. I want to come out. I am tired of going up and down all the time”.
Odhiambo is one five LRA commanders wanted by the ICC since 2005 for war crimes committed during their uprising Northern Uganda. However two of the LRA commanders Vincent Otti and Dominic Ongwen were killed since then.
The Ugandan Radio also said that the military is also closing in on Kony.
Ever since the ICC arrest warrants Kony has expressed readiness to sign a peace deal with the Ugandan government but he insisted that the UN Security Council (UNSC) scrap the indictments.
But Kampala rejected the request saying the LRA leader must sign the peace accord first. Kony appeared to agree and promised to meet up for final signature on multiple occasions but failed to do so.
Following the last no-show by Kony in December the governments of Uganda, DRC and Southern Sudan attacked LRA stronghold bases in Garamba area. The LRA then went on a killing spree inflicting hundreds of death among civilians in the three countries.
Today a statement attributed to the LRA sent to Sudan Tribune denied any involvement in the killings accusing Uganda of standing behind it.
“The LRA/M assures the people of Uganda of total commitment to negotiated peace settlement, and eager to get back to the negotiating table with new team to begin meaningful talks based on clear definition to resolve the conflict” the statement reads.
It is not clear whether Kampala will turn over Odhiambo to the ICC. A letter sent By Uganda to the ICC last November affirmed its commitment to executing the pending arrest warrants against LRA leaders.
Tens of thousands of people have been killed and nearly two million displaced in Uganda in two decades of fighting between Kampala and the LRA. The group is notorious for abducting children to use as soldiers and sex slaves.
(ST)
Biden Osire
Uganda LRA top commander reportedly captured in DRC
Hiii this is good news and will 100% give credit to our combined forces on ground who at last have manage to track this notorious commander down and i will say please UDPF,SPLA and Congo forces do more and even reach to the remaining Joseph Kony within this short period, it has also reach time to many now to believe that work is totally done and he (Odhiambo) MUST be immediately be handed to the ICC without delay.
Mr Famous Big_Logic_Boy
Uganda LRA top commander reportedly captured in DRC
Odhiambo if you have come out, you have come to face your records on ICC list not to join anyone. Even if your master konye keep hding still his time will come. The blood of innocent Ugandan and Suth Sudanese will never let you make any faked peace throught this money lover who call himself Riek. His business of selling Equatorians to LRA plus your misearable act in Equatoria will all be brough to hands of justices. Every things rotates round and round. You can do to others, but it willl come to yourself and now is your time for speaking to ICC as real man whether freedom fighter or gang figher.If your really waiting on the hands of jutsice Mr Odhiambo, i hope that you should be torture for 8 weeks before you get killed or whatever the ICC are planning, you need to feel the pain on yourself like how you did to others. Your ears, lips, hands, legs, nose and others parts should be cut publically as a great sign to other fake traitors.
David De Dau
Uganda LRA top commander reportedly captured in DRC
LRA are not only a Ugandan problem but a regional peace distablizing agents.
They must be apprehended and hand them over to the ICC.
Hillary B.M.L,M
Uganda LRA top commander reportedly captured in DRC
Captured,Captured,Captured.Good job to both forces DRC, Ugandan and South Sudan,remain Kony himself.I have nothing to say than saying good Job to allied forces,He is not prisoner of war but Criminal of war.Do to him as he did to thousand of people by cutting.
Lodule
Uganda LRA top commander reportedly captured in DRC
Wow Odhiambo,you brutality in the bush has costed your life and you deserve to face the ICC in the Hague for prosecution on the crimes you have committed ranging from murder,rape,displacement of villages and burning.All these crimes has manufactured an end to your life.The next move by the “allied forces” is to trape the notorious Kony who has engineered all these attrocities in the region.You must know that everything has an end.
Let the Joint forces continue with the military operation until Kony will one day one time find himself in a squeze angle.Kony’s magic will be neutralised by the bloodshed of the people he has murdered.The Uganda government must not accept any negotiation with this notoriious LRA who have caused alot of lives in the region.
The fall of yellow leaves is a warning to the green leaves.
Odhiambo,you have got it.
madbantu
Uganda LRA top commander reportedly captured in DRC
the headline is mis leading. If you read the articles and others from other sites, you will find that odhiambo is not captured and is negotiating his surrender. when a person is captured there is no negotiation. Up to now Okot is still in the bush. The three joint militaries want to make there assault on the rebels seem productive, because people know that since they bombed the LRA bases up to 900 civillians have been killed and or ubducted. Kony is still out there and the armies have captured very few and killed very few to be three large armies. even if they get okot he is only surrendering because he has a festering bullet wound and is debilitated not because of the military pressure. Okot will supposedly surrender with 45 fighters including captives. that is not a lot of people. There are many more LRA groups out there with there own commanders. Okot was recently opointed his possition after otti was murdered. so how easy would it be to appoint a new second in command. Just as quickly as otti was replaced. Kony has young soldiers and some have been groomed and apprenticed to become commanders. Just like opio makasi and dominic ongwen. Kony has children who may continue his cause and stay in the bush or go back to the bush. Remember his and many other LRA children were born and raised in the bush and have been raised on killing techniques and groomed to be just as evil as there dads. What needs to happen is amnesty. Kony is only fighting because he has know choice. No matter how wrong he is, what is in it for him if he surrenders. He will be tried and put in jail for life in Uganda or the hague. Why would he leave having sex with 40 wives and eating and killing in the bush to be put with men in some prison. To tell the truth hes better off at the hague at least he will be in an up to date prison and they wont kill him. Let okot come out of the bush and then maybe some people will celebrate. But ask your self, if okot comes out of the bush will the killing of civilians stop? No, so tell Uganda to stop using this bullshit propaganda to justify there ill thought assault that has done nothing but kill civilians. But i guess it doesnt matter to uganda how many congo and sudanese civilians are slaughtered as long as they acheive there personal vendetta against kony and his thugs. The FDLR/interahamwe are said to number 6 to 8000 soldiers and the joint congo/rwanda offensive seems to be working against the genociders. Maybe Rwanda needs to help catch kony and tell uganda to go back home.