Sudan to attend regional meeting on Ugandan rebels

July 28, 2009 (KHARTOUM) — Sudan, Central African Republic, Congo and Uganda would hold talks over the continuing attacks of the rebel Lord Resistance Army (LRA) and the humanitarian situation in the border area between the three countries.

Deng Alor told reporters yesterday that he would participate in a quadripartite meeting with his counterparts from CAR, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Uganda. “The invitation has been extended by the Congolese foreign minister,” said Alor on Monday.

He further added that Western Equatoria Governor Mrs. Jemma Nunu Kumba, would be part of the Sudanese delegation.

The minister made his remarks following a meeting with Mrs Kumba where he discussed the humanitarian situation in the Western Equatoria.

Speaking to the press, the governor said that the LRA attacks displaced some 60,000 people from their land and villages near the border with the Congo. She further stressed that there are significant number of refugees who fled recently the Ugandan rebel attacks.

A UN humanitarian team comprising different agencies visited last week two camps for IDPs and refugeesin Weastern Equatoria state to assess the situation there.

The refugee camps at Ezo and Source Yubu, both close to the Sudanese border with the Central African Republic and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, have had a sudden influx from people fleeing attacks by the LRA.

Local authorities have promised to ensure security at the settlements, while UNHCR said it would continue to monitor the situation and provide aid.

Governor Jemma said the LRA killed over one hundred Sudanese and more than one thousand Congolese, adding around 6,000 child were abducted.

She further stressed that Southern Sudan army (SPLA) does not take part in the attacks on the LRA rebels but protect the immense border area in order to prevent the Ugandan rebels from attacking civilians.

However she pointed out it was difficult to prevent the LRA totally from sneaking into Western Equatoria stressing they cross the border in small groups in order to avoid collision with the SPLA and attack civilians.

The northern Ugandan rebel group has launched attacks in neighboring DRC, CAR and southern Sudan over the past year, including one earlier this month at Ezo.

(ST)