Gen. Nkunda a Mystery
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The Monitor (Kampala)
June 22, 2004
Posted to the web June 21, 2004
Angelo Izama
Kampala
Mystery surrounds the reported presence in Uganda of a man who calls himself General
Laurent Nkunda. The Monitor reported yesterday that he was in Kampala to meet with
senior government officials.
But Defence Minister Amama Mbabazi and acting Foreign Affairs Minister Tom Butime,
denied that General Nkunda was in Kampala.
The Rwandan army with whom a Congolese General with the same names has reportedly
close links also said their information had confirmed that Laurent Nkunda had never
left North Kivu where he had been based.
Rwandan Army spokesman, Col Patrick Karegyeya said Rwanda was not interested in
Nkunda's whereabouts but later said the General was seen in North Kivu.
Nkunda and Col Jules Mutebusi, both Banyamulenge (ethnic Tutsi) were thrust into
spotlight after they briefly overran the southern Congolese town of Bukavu on June 2.
They alleged that government forces were targeting Banyamulenge, a claim disputed by
the Kinshasa government and the UN Mission in Congo (MONUC). According to press
reports Nkunda is a former fighter with the Rwanda Patriotic Front, which took over
Rwanda in 1994. He became a commander of the Rally for Congolese Democracy (RCD)
during Congo's civil war.
Human Rights Watch places him at the scene of brutal killings in Kisangani. General
Nkunda also has an outstanding arrest warrant from the Kinshasa government after he
failed to report to the capital as part of the new national army created by the
Pretoria peace accords.
When contacted the UN Peace Mission in Congo (MONUC) said their official position is
that General Nkunda was not in Kampala. " You have no evidence," said Samuel Maganda
of MONUC. Efforts to contact MONUC in the Congolese town of Goma for a comment failed.
Mystery Man
A man calling himself General Laurent Nkunda, however, spoke to The Monitor several
times on Sunday and Monday morning using a non-roaming Celtel number-075-802-108. He
said he had asked for President Yoweri Museveni's help to mediate between his forces
and the DRC government.
He said yesterday morning he was on his way to meet Mbabazi
"I have met with the Director General of External Security ( Maku Iga Angalefo), Col
Kahinda Otafiire, who is in charge of the Congo Desk and Minister Tom Butime. They
have agreed to communicate with Kinshasa concerning a meeting between his Excellency
Joseph Kabila and myself," Nkunda said.
" I have appointed a representative, Mr Felix Mumbere Kabyanga to head my
investigations team. I will also send him as a special envoy to Kinshasa to speak with
Kabila on my behalf" he added.
Nkunda however said his trip to Kampala was without the knowledge of the Kinshasa
government but that he had requested President Museveni to use his influence with
Kabila to facilitate a dialogue.
Relevant Links
East Africa
Uganda
Arms and Military Affairs
"The story that Nkunda is here and met the President and other security officials is
not true," said the Minister of Defence Amama Mbabazi, adding that there could be a
crisis in identification.
Later Army spokesman, Maj Shaban Bantariza in a faxed message repeated that Nkunda "
did not and has not requested, let alone contacted President Yoweri Museveni or any
government security officer about the on-going DRC tension". More importantly
Bantariza said, " there are official mechanisms under the UN and the Au to which and
through which such concerns are appropriately addressed and handled" he added.
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