Sudan Army Takes Over Kony Camps
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New Vision (Kampala)
January 11, 2003
Posted to the web January 13, 2003
Yunusu Abbey
Kampala
SUDANESE government troops will be deployed in camps which Joseph Kony's
Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) rebel group was occupying in southern Sudan to
avert any attacks against Uganda.
At the same time, the Sudan People's Armed Forces (SPAF) and the Uganda
People's Defence Forces (UPDF) will, with immediate effect, deploy liaison
officers in Gulu, Juba, Arua and Kitgum to monitor the security situation at
the shared border.
These were some of the key issues agreed on this week in a meeting between
defence minister Amama Mbabazi and his Sudanese counterpart Gen. Bakri Hassan
Saleh.
Bakri, who arrived in Uganda on Wednesday, held bilateral talks with Mbabazi
at the defence ministry headquarters in Bombo.
On Thursday, Bakri paid a courtesy call on President Yoweri Museveni in Gulu
before flying back home in the evening.
Bakri told journalists at Entebbe Airport shortly before departure that Sudan
was committed to the peace efforts and cordial relations existing between
Khartoum and Kampala.
"Sudan is ready to co-operate and work with Uganda. But the 1999 Nairobi
agreement in which the two countries pledged not to support each other's
rebel group (SPLA and LRA) is still binding and should be upheld," Bakri said.
A communique issued after the meeting said, "The Sudanese government
reiterates its firm position against any contacts by SPAF units with the LRA.
It was agreed that a joint mechanism of verifying all information should be
discussed in the next meeting in Khartoum."
It said Bakri and Mbabazi reviewed the implementation of the agreements and
protocols and were satisfied with their progress.
"The Uganda delegation briefed their Sudanese counterparts on the progress
regarding Operation Iron Fist and the Sudan delegation made assurances of
their support for the operation," the statement said.
"The Sudanese delegation presented a draft protocol on the implementation of
article 4 of the Nairobi Agreement relating to the SPLA for consideration by
their Ugandan counterparts," it added.
The statement said Bakri and Mbabazi reiterated the urgent need to convene
the joint ministerial commission this month to discuss some pertinent issues.
Bakri accepted Mbabazi's invitation to attend the Tarehe Sita (February 6)
Army Day celebrations.
Those who accompanied Bakri included Maj. Gen. Muhammad Ali El-Sheikh,
director of operations, Maj. Gen. Muhammad Abdelgadir Nasir Aldin, commander
of the engineers' corps, Maj. Gen. Mahjoub Abdallah Sharfi from the military
intelligence department and Maj. Gen. Hassab Aldaiem Maragn, the director of
protocol.
The Ugandan delegation included Army Commander, Maj. Gen. James Kazini,
commander of the Operation Iron Fist Brig. Aronda Nyakairima, First Division
commanding officer Brig. Levi Karuhanga and the chief of military
intelligence, Col. Noble Mayombo.
Relations between Kampala and Khartoum improved following bilateral talks
between Museveni and Sudanese president Gen. Omar Bashir in May 2001.
Bashir attended Museveni's swearing-in ceremony at Kololo Airstrip.
Libyan leader Col. Muammar Gaddafi played a key role in reconciling the two
countries.
