LRA LEAVES CAMPS, ATTACKS NEAR JUBA

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KHARTOUM 002527

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR AF/SPG

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/19/2016
TAGS: PGOV MOPS ASEC UG SU
SUBJECT: LRA LEAVES CAMPS, ATTACKS NEAR JUBA


Classified By: Acting P/E Chief Michael Honigstein, Reason: Section 1.4
(b) and (d)


1. (C) SUMMARY: Lord's' Resistance Army (LRA) combatants
killed approximately 17 civilians in attacks on vehicles on
major roads east of the southern Sudanese capital of Juba on
October 18. Nine persons were confirmed killed on the
Juba-Nimule road, a major transportation route between Juba
and the Ugandan border. In that incident, the LRA attacked
and burned three vehicles. Eight additional persons were
reported killed in a second attack on another vehicle on the
Juba-Torit road. The two incidents occurred in a general
area 12-16 miles east of Juba. END SUMMARY.

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Attacks South of Juba after LRA Disperses
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2. The approximate location of the attack on the Juba-Torit
road was 4 degrees 41' 28.02'' North/031 degrees 44' 02.12''
East. The location is approximately 12.5 miles southeast of
the main bridge crossing the Nile in Juba town. The attack
on the Juba-Nimule road was at approximately 4 degrees 37'
52.85'' North/031 degrees 44' 24.56'' East. That location is
approximately 16 miles from the Juba bridge. UN security
personnel instructed all UN staff to suspend movement along
these two roads for the next two days, except for cleared
emergency movements. UN travel is also suspended on the
Juba-Mongala Road and on the "NImule-Magwe-Parajok-Labone"
road.


3. The attacks came in the aftermath of the dispersal of LRA
forces from an assembly area at Owiny-Kibul, near the
Uganda-Sudan border. An undetermined number of LRA forces
had assembled at Owiny-Kibul--estimates ranged from 50 to
800--under the terms of a Cessation of Hostilities Agreement
between the Government of Uganda (GOU) and the LRA. The
agreement was worked out in ongoing peace talks in Juba,
mediated by Riek Machar, the Vice Preident of the Government
of Southern Sudan.


4. The Cessation of Hostilities agreement expired September

19. In early October, a joint observation team comprised of
representatives from all sides at the peace talks, traveled
to Owiny-Kibul and confirmed that the LRA who had been
assembled there were dispersed. However, the GOSS continued
to distribute food and other supplies to some LRA elements in
the general vicinity of Owiny-Kibul.

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ICC Indictee Attacks North of Juba
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5. During the last week, there were reports of skirmishes
between LRA combatants and villagers north of Juba. The
skirmishes allegedly involved an LRA group led by Dominic
Ongwen, a senior commander now under indictment by the
International Criminal Court. Ongwen was reportedly
attempting to cross the Nile from east to west. Ongwen, who
had traveled to Owiny-Kibul from northern Uganda, was among
the LRA commanders who subsequently left the assembly area.
Sources in both the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) and
the Uganda People's Defense Forces (UPDF) said Ongwen had
been instructed to reunite with LRA chief Joseph Kony,
believed to be in the Garamba National Park area of
northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo.


6. On Saturday, October 14, UPDF forces reportedly clashed
with Ongwen's group at Birinyang (or "Biliniang"),a location
east of Juba near the sites of the latest incidents. The
head of Uganda's External Security Organization, Angelefo
Maku-Iga confirms that UPDF forces attacked the LRA group and
inflicted casualties. A senior SPLA officer with
responsibility for the Owiny-Kibul area, Maj. Gen. Wilson
Deng, said he was still attempting to confirm UPDF
involvement.


7. On Monday, October 16, according to Deng, the SPLA
provided food and medicine to Ongwen's group. Ongwen had
apparently requested the assistance after reporting to more
senior LRA commanders that he needed new provisions and
medicine to treat combatants injured in the clash with the
UPDF. In a separate incident, confirmed publicly by both the
LRA and the UPDF, LRA forces killed a UPDF captain at a
location south of Juba on Tuesday, October 17.

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SPLA Angered, Talks Threatened
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8. Another senior SPLA officer, Maj. Gen. Obuto Mumur Mette,

KHARTOUM 00002527 002 OF 002


told Congen Juba staff that today's attacks on civilian
vehicles were the result of a direct order by LRA
second-in-command Vincent Otti to Dominc Ongwen. The SPLA
was reportedly incensed The officer confirmed that today's
attacks had incensed the SPLA. He said he expected SPLA
forces to deploy in the area of the attacks on October 19 in
"combat mode."


9. Late in the evening of October 18, chief mediator and
GOSS VP Riek Machar remained huddled with advisors at the
site of the peace talks. Neither the Ugandan government
delegation nor the LRA delegation were present at the talks
in the aftermath of today's attacks.
HUME