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African Church Information Service
February 3, 2003
Posted to the web January 31, 2003
Crespo Sebunya
Bunia/Kampala
Rebel groups in eastern Congo are re-aligning themselves, with several Ugandan-backed factions now opting to cooperate with Rwanda. The move has intensified tension between Uganda and Rwanda.
The Union of Congolese Patriots (UPC), led by Thomas Lubanga, who leads 5,000 Hema militia, and controls Bunia, signed a cooperation treaty with Rwanda mid January.
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The group had also voted overwhelmingly for the withdrawal of 1000 Ugandan troops from eastern Congo.
And the Rally for Congolese Democracy-Liberation Movement (RCD-ML), whose forces were thrown out of Bunia in a coup in May 2002 backed by Uganda, has switched to Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) side.
Early this year another warlord, Jean Bosco Barihima, shifted base from Kampala to Kigali.
The mistrust between Rwanda and Uganda has deepened since the defection of Barihima.
Barihima alleged an insidious anti-Rwanda programme to allow Ugandan controlled territories be used by Hutu dissidents to plan several frontal attacks on Rwanda.
Though Uganda has dismissed such claims, it has done little to unnerve Rwanda. The massive influx of Rwandan refugees into Uganda is also source of tension.
Minister of state for refugees, Christine Aporu said recently that Uganda would restrict entry of 3,000 Rwandese refugees from crossing into Uganda from Tanzania. Among these are some who are armed.
Authorities in Rwanda know refugees have provided a pool from which rebels are recruited.
Rwanda is still concerned about a report issued by a joint military verification committee by both countries last year, which established that Hutu dissidents crossed into Uganda on their way to conducting subversive activities in Rwanda.
However, Ugandan minister for regional affairs, Col Kahinda Otafiire said Uganda is exercising maximum restraint on events in eastern Congo.
Apparently factions still aligned to Uganda are gearing themselves for anti-Rwanda propaganda war.
The power struggle has not only enhanced insecurity in the region, but has also threatened United Nations (UN) trust on Uganda to pacify the region.
A letter dated November 22, 2002 from the then UN permanent representative in Uganda, Professor Semakula Kiwanuka, committed Uganda into working with UPC and RCD-ML to pacify Ituri region through establishment of Ituri Pacification Committee. Uganda has instead fallen out with the two congolese rebel factions.
