Uganda hosting Sudanese rebel headquarters
By George Murumba
16th July 2012:
Gen. Bashir: Uganda's Accuser-in-Chief
Sudanese President Gen. Omar al Bashir’s Khartoum government has accused Uganda of granting permission to representatives of the anti-Bashir rebel group, the Sudan Liberation Army-Minni Minnawi (SLA-MM) to set up its headquarters in Kampala, a claim the Uganda government has always denied.
On more than one occasion, however, Uganda government officials have publicly admitted that Uganda is a long-time ally of South Sudan. It is also publicly know that Uganda actively supported Col. John Garang’s Sudan People’s Liberation Army [SPLA] rebels during its civil war with the Sudanese government in the 90′s through mid 2000′s.
Both Ugandan and South Sudanese officials, as well as the SLM-MM, on the other hand accuse Sudan of resuming its support for the LRA, which the Sudanese government supported as a proxy fighting group against Uganda and South Sudan from 1994-2005.
Ugandan military officials report that Kony and 100-150 LRA fighters may be hiding out in Darfur. Darfuri rebels opposed to the Khartoum government reportedly clashed with LRA forces in September 2010 and November 2011, heightening fears of a renewed LRA-Sudan alliance.
The way forward
Defusing tension along the Sudan-South Sudan border requires a comprehensive approach that includes a mutually acceptable border demarcation, political dialogue, and a halt to state support of rebel groups. The LRA remains a small yet important piece of this puzzle.
Though its military capacity is limited, LRA attacks or increased Sudanese support to the rebel group could be a spark that escalates the broader border conflict between Sudan and South Sudan, which could exacerbate the existing humanitarian crisis for communities in the region.
And if Kony is granted safe haven in South Darfur, President Obama’s LRA strategy – and US military adviser deployment – will be destined to fail in its mission to bring an end to LRA violence. To prevent this from happening, the US should push for more robust investigations of reported LRA activity in South Darfur.
They should also encourage the African Union’s LRA envoy, Francisco Madeira, to request that Sudan allow an AU investigative team to South Darfur to visit areas where LRA forces are reportedly operating. The UN/AU peacekeeping mission in Darfur (UNAMID) should also investigate LRA activity there.
Finally, US officials should make clear to Sudanese officials that there will be significant diplomatic consequences if Sudan gives safe haven or material support to LRA forces. END. Login to www.ugandacorrespondent.com every Monday to read our top stories mid-week for our updates
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