Uganda thanks Sudan for allowing its army to pursue rebels over border

KAMPALA, April 15, 2004 (Xinhua) — Ugandan First Deputy Prime Minister Moses Ali on Thursday thanked neighboring Sudan for granting access to Ugandan army to carry out military operations inside the country against the rebel Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) led by Joseph Kony.

He expressed the gratitude at the opening two-day meeting of the Uganda-Sudan joint ministerial commission.

The LRA rebels have been fighting 18-year-old war to topple the Ugandan government dominated by southerners, and claiming to give power to northern Acholi tribe. And they have killed tens of thousands of civilians, abducted over 20,000 children and displaced more than 1.5 million people, most of whom are from Acholi tribe.

Since last month the Uganda People’s Defense Forces have been pursuing the rebels in southern Sudan to flush them out after securing a green light from the Khartoum government.

At the meeting, Ali also said Uganda is particularly hopeful that the resolution of the 20-year conflict in the Sudan will bring to an end the problems of cross-border incursions and refugees, adding that peace in the Sudan will mean peace in Uganda and other neighboring countries of the Sudan.

He said the joint ministerial commission will provide a framework and new impetus for the two countries to strengthen existing cooperation and explore new cooperation opportunities.

The two-day meeting will discuss a number of draft framework cooperation agreements in security, trade and investment, transport and communication, refugees, education and culture among others.