SOUTHERN SUDAN LRA UPDATE, DECEMBER 14, 2009

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 KHARTOUM 001405 SENSITIVE SIPDIS NSC FOR MGAVIN, LETIM DEPT PLS PASS USAID FOR AFR/SUDAN ADDIS ABABA ALSO FOR USAU E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREF PGOV PHUM PREL MOPS SU UG CG CT SUBJECT: SOUTHERN SUDAN LRA UPDATE, DECEMBER 14, 2009 REF: STATE 118217 KHARTOUM 00001405 001.2 OF 004 ¶1. (SBU) Summary: While the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) activities have diminished in Western Equatoria since September, there are reports that the LRA has moved operations into Raja County, Western Bahr el-Ghazal, and unconfirmed reports of movement into South Darfur. The Ugandan People's Defense Force (UPDF) along with the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) continue to work together to target the LRA, but remain hampered by a lack of logistical resources and limited access to reliable intelligence. The numbers of refugees and internally-displaced persons (IDPs) remain very high, with the majority of those affected being non-verified IDPs. Other issues of concern remain the nomadic Amboro tribe and food security in Western Equatoria, and the use of the "arrow boys" - a state-sanctioned community security response to the LRA. End Summary. -------------- LRA Attacks -------------- ¶2. (SBU) During the month of November, LRA attacks in Southern Sudan continued, albeit at a much lower rate than reported in the months of August and September of 2009. While the LRA continued to operate in Western Equatoria and over the border in Central African Republic (CAR),new reports of LRA activity in Raja County of Western Bahr el-Ghazal and rumors of activity in South Darfur began to surface in October. The UN, SPLA and UPDF have confirmed that the LRA attacked Boramedina in Raja on October 21. The attack was on a much larger scale than normal for the LRA, with almost LRA attacking the town and possibly another 20 LRA securing its perimeter. The group abducted 49 people to act as porters and killed three. There were additional smaller attacks in Western Equatoria in November. ¶3. (SBU) The SPLA reported that during the first week of November there were seven incidents, which resulted in one civilian death, the abduction of one civilian, the surrender of three LRA and the escape or rescue of eleven abductees. During a November 24-26 visit to Yambio, the UNMIS Resident Coordinator for Yambio, Adewuyi Adewumi, confirmed reports that the LRA had attacked the area of Sakure on November 12 and 13. A group of seven LRA entered the town of Sakure and told members of the community that they wished to surrender to the UPDF, but asked to meet with the tribal elders first. Once the elders arrived, the group attacked, killing four civilians and abducting ten. The UPDF pursued the group, and while in pursuit, found another three bodies outside of the village which they believe were killed by the same LRA group. ¶4. (SBU) SPLA and UPDF reporting indicates that LRA activity is ongoing in Western Equatoria, particularly in the areas of Ezo and Tambura counties as well as over the border in CAR and DRC. Since late September the SPLA and UPDF are reporting the movement of the LRA further north into Western Bahr el-Ghazal and as far south as the town of Daffak in Southern Darfur. (Note: Although the Government of Sudan's (GOS) Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) acknowledged clashing with rebels in the area in early October, the GOS dit nou al.ounge whmthe the rbg,s!ware&LRA c onm!ftc2fvQ# k!nxyjifubEsreBencQgu`.(-e~dn.te/Q QW0e3q Xg7m*Byk8`n5YchogQy>O^ky_~G~>_wG