Uganda deploys its troops along its border with the DRC

Since December 1^st, 2004, the Ugandan People Defence Forces (UPDF) said it had deployed an unspecified number of troops along its border with the DRC to prevent incursions by “negative elements” based there. Contacted by AFP, the spokesman of the UPDF Maj. Shaban Bantariza said: “We have made precautionary deployment along the border on our side especially in areas we think are possible crossing point for negative elements based in eastern Congo”. This deployment comes a day after reports filtered in that Rwandan troops have invaded the Democratic Republic of Congo.  On Tuesday, the secretary general of one former DRC rebel group, Jean Louis Ernest Kyaviro, said two brigades of Rwandan troops crossed the border “several days ago” near Rutshuru and Lubero which lie 70 and 250 kilometres (150 miles) north of the border town of Goma respectively. He said the Rwandans have burned huts and killed about 60 people.

The UN Mission in the DRC, MONUC, said they had seen 100 troops, apparently from Rwanda, in eastern DRC, raising fears that Rwanda was once again invading the vast neighbouring country. Kigali has insisted, on its side that, it will take it upon itself to neutralise extremist Hutu fighters there because the UN and the DRC army have proved unable to disarm them.

Héritiers de la Justice is scared of the development the situation in Eastern DRC that is likely to undermine international efforts to stabilize the Great Lakes Region. It, therefore, invites firstly, the Rwandan government to withdraw all its troops from the DRC and, secondly the Ugandan government not to cross the Congolese border.

Besides, Héritiers de la Justice recommends that the African Union and civil societies should put pressure on Rwanda, DRC and Uganda to implement the Kigali Agreement of October 26 2004, on disarmament of armed troops in the DRC, and the Dar-es-Salaam Declaration on Peace, Security, Democracy and Development, signed on 20 November 2004 Finally, Héritiers de la Justice recommends the African Union and UN Security Council to take appropriate measures including embargos against any repetitive invasion of the DRC.

December 4th, 2004