Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09KAMPALA571
2009-06-08 13:02:00
SECRET//NOFORN
Embassy Kampala
Cable title:
UGANDA/DRC: LRA ABDUCTS 135 IN RETALIATORY RAIDS
how-toVZCZCXRO3130 RR RUEHRN RUEHROV DE RUEHKM #0571 1591302 ZNY SSSSS ZZH R 081302Z JUN 09 FM AMEMBASSY KAMPALA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1463 INFO RUCNIAD/IGAD COLLECTIVE RUEHXR/RWANDA COLLECTIVE RHMFISS/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE
S E C R E T KAMPALA 000571
NOFORN
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/08/19
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM MOPS MARR UG CG SU CT
SUBJECT: UGANDA/DRC: LRA ABDUCTS 135 IN RETALIATORY RAIDS
REF: KINSHASA 523
Classified By: P/E Chief Kathleen FitzGibbon for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d
).
S E C R E T KAMPALA 000571
NOFORN
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/08/19
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM MOPS MARR UG CG SU CT
SUBJECT: UGANDA/DRC: LRA ABDUCTS 135 IN RETALIATORY RAIDS
REF: KINSHASA 523
Classified By: P/E Chief Kathleen FitzGibbon for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d
).
1. (C) Ugandan military and U.N. Mission in Congo (MONUC)
officials confirm press reports that the Lord's Resistance
Army (LRA) may have abducted up to 135 people south of the
Democratic Republic of Congo's (DRC) border with Central
African Republic (CAR). The attacks occurred on June 2 and 3
in the village of Dakwa, some 125 miles south of the DRC-CAR
border. (Note: Reftel reports that up to 200 people may have
been abducted. End Note.)
2. (S NF) The abductions at Dakwa are the largest undertaken
since the LRA massacred 611 Congolese and abducted 165 in
Doruma, Duru, and Faradje during in late December, 2008, and
early January, 2009. Ugandan Peoples Defense Forces (UPDF)
spokesman Felix Kulaiygye told us that internal LRA
communications indicated that the LRA conducted the raids in
retaliation for the UDPF's killing of six senior LRA
commanders in the past two weeks. The LRA did not say which
six commanders had been killed. The Ugandan Government
believes that Major General Cesar Acellam and Lt. Col. Okuti
were killed near the CAR border. In a separate attack near
Dakwa, the UPDF killed several LRA commanders in an area
where some senior leaders have been been operating.
Kulaiygye also said that the LRA's internal communications
revealed that at least 70 LRA fighters had been killed since
the beginning of the joint military operations. The UPDF
believes the attacks could also be another diversionary move,
such as the Christmas massacres, to pull Ugandan military
forces away from a group of LRA that may be attempting to
move through the tri-border area of CAR into southern
Kordufan state in Sudan.
3. (S NF) Comment: In the past, the LRA has carried out
similar attacks when it is under increased pressure from the
UPDF. The UPDF has made significant progress against senior
LRA targets over the past month. The abduction could be a
indication the LRA groups in the area are becoming more
desperate, rather than a sign that they are increasing in
strength, which is the common speculation in the press. We
are seeking additional independent sources to verify the
facts surrounding the abduction and will report septel.
BROWNING
NOFORN
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/08/19
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM MOPS MARR UG CG SU CT
SUBJECT: UGANDA/DRC: LRA ABDUCTS 135 IN RETALIATORY RAIDS
REF: KINSHASA 523
Classified By: P/E Chief Kathleen FitzGibbon for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d
).
1. (C) Ugandan military and U.N. Mission in Congo (MONUC)
officials confirm press reports that the Lord's Resistance
Army (LRA) may have abducted up to 135 people south of the
Democratic Republic of Congo's (DRC) border with Central
African Republic (CAR). The attacks occurred on June 2 and 3
in the village of Dakwa, some 125 miles south of the DRC-CAR
border. (Note: Reftel reports that up to 200 people may have
been abducted. End Note.)
2. (S NF) The abductions at Dakwa are the largest undertaken
since the LRA massacred 611 Congolese and abducted 165 in
Doruma, Duru, and Faradje during in late December, 2008, and
early January, 2009. Ugandan Peoples Defense Forces (UPDF)
spokesman Felix Kulaiygye told us that internal LRA
communications indicated that the LRA conducted the raids in
retaliation for the UDPF's killing of six senior LRA
commanders in the past two weeks. The LRA did not say which
six commanders had been killed. The Ugandan Government
believes that Major General Cesar Acellam and Lt. Col. Okuti
were killed near the CAR border. In a separate attack near
Dakwa, the UPDF killed several LRA commanders in an area
where some senior leaders have been been operating.
Kulaiygye also said that the LRA's internal communications
revealed that at least 70 LRA fighters had been killed since
the beginning of the joint military operations. The UPDF
believes the attacks could also be another diversionary move,
such as the Christmas massacres, to pull Ugandan military
forces away from a group of LRA that may be attempting to
move through the tri-border area of CAR into southern
Kordufan state in Sudan.
3. (S NF) Comment: In the past, the LRA has carried out
similar attacks when it is under increased pressure from the
UPDF. The UPDF has made significant progress against senior
LRA targets over the past month. The abduction could be a
indication the LRA groups in the area are becoming more
desperate, rather than a sign that they are increasing in
strength, which is the common speculation in the press. We
are seeking additional independent sources to verify the
facts surrounding the abduction and will report septel.
BROWNING