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Uganda: Congo Yet to Leave Disputed Area
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New Vision (Kampala)
13 May 2008
Posted to the web 14 May 2008
Frank Mugabi
Kampala
Congolese forces are still holding the disputed border area at Vurra in West Nile, two days after President Yoweri Museveni and his Congolese counterpart, Joseph Kabila, agreed on non-confrontational means to resolve the conflict.
The two presidents, who met in Tanzania on Sunday, resolved that the status quo be maintained along the common border as the remarking exercise is ongoing.
This meant that the Congolese were to withdraw their forces from the contested area and also halt construction of the controversial new border post.
However, several armed Congolese policemen were by yesterday still manning the barrier and construction for the new immigration offices was going on.
At least seven policemen armed with AK47 rifles blocked The New Vision reporter from taking pictures.
Residents reported seeing Congolese soldiers on patrol at night. Meanwhile, the policemen who were guarding the new 'welcome' sign-post that is just two feet from the Uganda customs office had withdrawn about 100m and abandoned the makeshift shelter they had erected.
One of the youth had turned the shelter into a petty business stall.
When contacted, the first Integrated Brigade Commander of Aru, Col. Masudi Hussan, said they were still waiting for orders from Kinshasa.
"We heard of the meeting but we can't make any move before we get orders," Masudi said in a telephone interview from Aru.
The Arua resident district commissioner, Ibrahim Abiriga, encouraged the Congolese to withdraw and wait for the findings of the joint border verification committee.
"This matter is at top government level. We should respect whatever orders we are given and let everyone be seen to be doing his part," Abiriga said.
On recent reports of additional military deployments in Aru, he said the territorial administrator, Mawa Enzoronzi, clarified that the troops were en-route to Aba near the Sudanese border.
"He told me that they were never brought here because of the border conflict but they were going to Aba, and they are already there."
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The tension at Vurra started on May 2 when Congolese soldiers and the police occupied a stretch of no-man's land between Uganda and DR Congo.
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