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Attack 'ends Uganda peace talks' | Attack 'ends Uganda peace talks' |
(about 4 hours later) | |
Ugandan rebels say a stalled peace process has collapsed completely after a joint attack on its positions by forces from three African countries. | Ugandan rebels say a stalled peace process has collapsed completely after a joint attack on its positions by forces from three African countries. |
Uganda, DR Congo and South Sudan launched a joint offensive on Sunday against bases of the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) in north-eastern DR Congo. | Uganda, DR Congo and South Sudan launched a joint offensive on Sunday against bases of the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) in north-eastern DR Congo. |
A rebel negotiator said the offensive signalled an escalation of the war. | A rebel negotiator said the offensive signalled an escalation of the war. |
The Ugandan army has said that several LRA camps have been destroyed, including its main base. | The Ugandan army has said that several LRA camps have been destroyed, including its main base. |
Army spokesman Paddy Ankunda told the BBC that the operation had been launched because LRA leader Joseph Kony had been unwilling to end the violence in the region. | Army spokesman Paddy Ankunda told the BBC that the operation had been launched because LRA leader Joseph Kony had been unwilling to end the violence in the region. |
Last month Mr Kony failed to sign a peace deal, despite two years of tortuous negotiations. | Last month Mr Kony failed to sign a peace deal, despite two years of tortuous negotiations. |
Millions displaced | Millions displaced |
The LRA has led a rebellion for more than 20 years in northern Uganda, displacing some two million people. | The LRA has led a rebellion for more than 20 years in northern Uganda, displacing some two million people. |
LRA negotiator David Nekorach Matsanga told the BBC's Network Africa programme that the involvement of troops from South Sudan - which is mediating in the conflict - meant that the peace process was now as good as dead. | LRA negotiator David Nekorach Matsanga told the BBC's Network Africa programme that the involvement of troops from South Sudan - which is mediating in the conflict - meant that the peace process was now as good as dead. |
He said he had not been able to contact LRA commanders since the attacks and it was not clear how much damage or casualties had been inflicted. | He said he had not been able to contact LRA commanders since the attacks and it was not clear how much damage or casualties had been inflicted. |
Mr Matsanga said he had protested to United Nations envoy at the negotiations, former Mozambican President Joaquim Chissano, saying: "We needed more time for peace. Peace was going to come. It was around the corner." | Mr Matsanga said he had protested to United Nations envoy at the negotiations, former Mozambican President Joaquim Chissano, saying: "We needed more time for peace. Peace was going to come. It was around the corner." |
He said that Sudanese mediator Riek Machar had told him that the South Sudanese government was not aware of the attacks. | He said that Sudanese mediator Riek Machar had told him that the South Sudanese government was not aware of the attacks. |
[But] "The intelligence that I have gathered is that⦠a section of the SPLA [Sudan People's Liberation Army, South Sudan's army] was involved in the attack, which is a very bad precedent because it is now an escalation of the war and it puts the peace process in total collapse," he said. | |
BBC East Africa correspondent Peter Greste says it is doubtful that any of the three governments involved are concerned about a collapse in the peace process. | BBC East Africa correspondent Peter Greste says it is doubtful that any of the three governments involved are concerned about a collapse in the peace process. |
Mr Kony has repeatedly refused to sign a draft agreement and his troops have continued to attack, rape and mutilate civilians and abduct children across all three countries amidst the peace process, our correspondent says. | Mr Kony has repeatedly refused to sign a draft agreement and his troops have continued to attack, rape and mutilate civilians and abduct children across all three countries amidst the peace process, our correspondent says. |
He is wanted by the International Criminal Court for war crimes and crimes against humanity. | He is wanted by the International Criminal Court for war crimes and crimes against humanity. |
Mr Kony has insisted that arrest warrants for him and for his associates must be dropped before any agreement is signed. | Mr Kony has insisted that arrest warrants for him and for his associates must be dropped before any agreement is signed. |
A statement announcing the joint operation was released in the Ugandan capital Kampala by intelligence chiefs of all three armed forces. | A statement announcing the joint operation was released in the Ugandan capital Kampala by intelligence chiefs of all three armed forces. |
The statement said the attack targeted the "terrorists" at their bases in the forested area of Garamba, in the east of DR Congo. | The statement said the attack targeted the "terrorists" at their bases in the forested area of Garamba, in the east of DR Congo. |
"The three armed forces successfully attacked the main body and destroyed the main camp of Kony, code-named camp Swahili, setting it on fire," the statement said. | "The three armed forces successfully attacked the main body and destroyed the main camp of Kony, code-named camp Swahili, setting it on fire," the statement said. |