AU pushes regional leaders to hunt LRA
President Museveni with his DR Congo counterpart Joseph Kabila in Kampala in November. Congo has agreed to contribute troops to the AU-led operation against LRA rebels. PPU PHOTO.
What you need to know:
Continental body wants operational documents approved urgently to fast-track military action, currently lying in abeyance.
Regional defence chiefs from four participating countries are due to meet in a few weeks to try and kick life into the lethargic offensive against the Lord’s Resistance Army rebels.
It emerged yesterday that President Joseph Kabila’s government has agreed to contribute troops to the AU-led anti-Kony operation, months after withdrawing its US-trained 391st battalion from LRA- infiltrated areas to take care of M23’s insurrection in east of the country.
Uganda, the DR Congo, South Sudan and Central African Republic are the participating countries in the counter LRA-efforts, but financial/logistical bottlenecks, indifferent political attitudes and disparate military communication modes have hamstrung progress.
There is, as of yet, no agreed rules of engagement for troops already on the ground; the procedure of commencing unified operations under AU command remains incomplete while limited infrastructure is impeding transportation of soldiers.
The AU, after frustrating months of delayed action, is now coming out of the woods, this time rallying regional defence chiefs to quickly approve key documents to lift joint military operations off the ground.
The meeting, a source familiar with its arrangements, said is likely to take place on January 15. No venue has yet been decided.
In a statement issued on Christmas Eve, the AU emphasised the need to urgently approve the Concept of Operations, the Strategic Directives and the Rules of Engagement documents to fast-track implementation of the Regional Cooperation Initiative for the Elimination of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA ICR).
“The [expected] adoption by the Defence Ministers of the mission documents will make it possible to enhance the effectiveness of the military operations undertaken under the command of the Regional Task Force,” the statement reads in part.
UPDF’s Col. Dick Prit Olum commands the regional taskforce in Yambio, South Sudan.
The Chiefs of Defense Staff of the four partner states met in Bangui last week and agreed to re-submit the Standard Operating Procedures document for the treatment of suspected LRA rebels for further consideration by member countries.
