Uganda, Sudan in talks on capturing rebel leader

KAMPALA, July 27, 2004 (Xinhua) — Both the Ugandan and Sudanese governments were in talks on how the Sudanese army could capture Joseph Kony, leader of the rebel Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), Radio Uganda reported on Tuesday night.

Ugandan Defense Minister Amama Mbabazi was quoted as saying that although there were reports that Kony had crossed back to Sudan, the two governments were discussing how the rebel leader could be captured and handed over.

Mbabazi said that the security situation in both northern Uganda and southern Sudan has greatly improved as Uganda People’s Defense Forces (UPDF) intensified their efforts against the rebels and the two countries continued to cooperate.

He added that the rebels’ capacity has been weakened as rebel senior commanders and advisers continued to surrender.

The LRA rebels, based in southern Sudan, have killed tens of thousands of people and displaced over 1.6 million people in northern Uganda in their 18-year-long rebellion.

The number of the rebels has been reduced to about hundreds after Iron Fist Operation was launched two years ago by the Ugandan army in northern Uganda and southern Sudan.