East Africa: UPDF Planes Attack Kony’s Congo Base

Kampala — UGANDA, South Sudan and DR Congo yesterday morning jointly attacked Joseph Kony’s rebels hiding in Garamaba forest. The massive attack on Kony’s bases in the jungles located in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo has the backing of the American government and other Western powers.The joint force is made up of the UPDF, the Congolese FARDC and the Southern Sudanese SPLA.

“The three armed forces successfully attacked the main body and destroyed the main camp of Kony code-named Camp Swahili, setting it on fire,” a brief statement from the UPDF explained.By press time, Kony’s whereabouts were not known.For the last 20 years, the LRA rebels have terrorised northern Uganda, southern Sudan and Congo, killing and maiming thousands of people.”Military operations against these terrorists are continuing and more details about the operation will be released as it progresses,” the statement added.

It was jointly signed by the three chiefs of military intelligence; Brig. James Mugira (UPDF), Brig. Mutual Majok (SPLA) and Brig. Deodenne Kitenge (FARDC).An air force, paratroopers and the infantry backed the operation, which started at 11:00am. The forces and military hardware were airlifted to the war-zone over the last two days.The first target was Kony’s main camp nestled in the densely forested Garamba National Park, a three-hour walk from Ri-Kwangba on the Congo-Sudan boarder where the rebels were supposed to assemble under the August 2006 truce. The camp is at the foot of a flat-topped hill, which is embraced by rocks, leaving one entrance.

In West Nile, which borders Sudan and Congo, the army was on standby. Security along the border was tightened.The army spokesman in the area, Capt. Robert Kamara, refused to comment on the Garamba assault.”I don’t know what is happening in Garamba but what I know is that our borders are safe. We cannot allow anybody to come and destabilise our peace,” Kamara said.

In northern Uganda, where residents bore the brunt of the two-decade rebellion, the army assured the population that the rebels would not cross back.”Our deployments along the borders with DR Congo and Sudan are intact and there is no cause for alarm,” the 4th Division army spokesman, Capt. Ronald Kakurungu, said.He explained that internally displaced people (IDPs) and those who have returned to their homes would be safe during the Christmas season.”We are not going to allow any kind of insecurity to rise in this area again,” Akiiki said.

The Government offered Kony amnesty through the peace talks that started on July 14, 2006 in Juba, South Sudan.However, the talks dragged on when the LRA repeatedly failed to sign the final peace agreement, citing indictments against its top commanders by the International Criminal Court. On November 29 and 30, Kony kept mediators and diplomats waiting for two days at Nabanga in Sudan.

He did not show up to sign the agreement, insisting that the ICC indictments must be dropped.His latest demand was that he wanted to talk to President Museveni directly. The leader of the LRA peace team, David Matsanga and the chief mediator, Dr Riek Machar, presented the request to Museveni.In June, Museveni passed out soldiers of the 11th and 45th battalions who had completed combat training in joint fighting skills supported by the air force.

The drills, conducted at Bondo about 25km from Arua town, involved helicopter gunships and other warplanes.On that occasion, Museveni warned that Kony would be safer signing the final agreement.