Abou Moussa, UN special representative for Central Africa, said that all four
countries had committed to provide the troops. “The issue is the resources
to maintain them.”
Kony, who launched his rebellion in Uganda two decades ago, is now said to
have between 300 and 500 troops and about half of these are children or
former child soldiers.
Mr Madeira said the rebel band was in an area as big as France on the border
between DR Congo, South Sudan and Central African Republic. It is still
being blamed for attacks, including one this week on a uranium plant in
Central African Republic.
“He is being tracked but it is still very difficult to say wherever he is,”
said Mr Moussa. “There is a press report that he is in Darfur but we can’t
confirm that. What is certain is that the [Lord’s Resistance Army] as a
group continues to commit atrocities in those areas.”
The AU and UN envoys praised the 100 US Special Forces who are training the
army in Central African Republican and DR Congo and helping with some
soldiers already launched in the hunt.
The UN and AU will set out an anti-LRA strategy to the UN Security Council on
Wednesday.
As well as appealing for support for the military force, the envoys said
greater help is needed to protect civilians in the LRA conflict zone, to
tempt defectors and to help the governments establish authority in the areas.
They will be meeting representatives of European, US and African governments
on Thursday to seek new help.
A new report released this week by the Resolve advocacy group argues that the
US military advisors should be given greater scope to get out and lead the
hunt for Kony as part of efforts to put new impetus into the campaign.
The report said the Ugandan military, “the most capable force pursuing the
LRA, has been forced to withdraw from Congolese territory and has as few as
800 troops remaining in the field.”
Resolve said that Kony was “reportedly hiding along the border between
northern Central African Republic and South Darfur.”
Efforts to trap Kony, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court, have
been redoubled since the release of an Internet documentary this year which
has been viewed more than 90 million times.
The UN says that despite the greater publicity, Kony is pursuing an ever more
desperate rampage in Central Africa and has abducted more than 600 child
soldiers over the past two years.
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