LRA chief Ongwen surrenders

KAMPALA

The Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) second in command ‘Maj Gen’ Dominic Ongwen, has surrendered. Senior security sources close to the military effort to hunt down the LRA fighters said ‘Gen’ Ongwen gave himself up to the Seleka rebels at the Central African Republic-South Sudan border at the weekend.

Sources say at the time of his surrender, the Seleka rebels could not immediately establish who ‘Gen’ Ongwen was but Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) informants identified him and informed their command, which arranged with American forces to airlift him to their tactical base at Obo.

Wanted by ICC
‘Gen’ Ongwen is one of the five LRA top commanders who were in 2005 indicted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for war crimes and crimes against humanity. In the same year, the American government put a $5m (Shs13 billion) bounty on Ongwen’s head for anyone who may have information leading to his arrest or transfer or conviction.

The UPDF spokesperson, Lt Col Paddy Ankunda, declined to comment. When contacted, the American Embassy spokesperson, Mr Davis Travis referred this newspaper to the United States State Department spokesperson, Ms Melisa Schumi Jones. However, Ms Schumi’s mobile phone was switched off.

Held by the Americans
Security sources said Mr Ongwen is currently held by the American forces at Obo, the major town of Haut-Mbomou prefecture in the CAR. According to the ICC, Mr Ongwen is wanted for charges including murder, enslavement, cruel treatment of civilians, and intentionally directing an attack against a civilian population.

The African Union and United Nations Security Council have repeatedly condemned atrocities committed by the LRA. Mr Ongwen had earlier been reported killed in battle with the UPDF in October 2005. However, a year later, genetic finger printing by the ICC proved that the person who was thought to be Mr Ongwen was not the one; leading to the American government putting him on the list of the wanted people.

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