Latest News
South Sudan accuses Ugandan troops of civilian attacks
By [unknown placeholder $article.art_field1$]
Aug 25, 2008 - 5:23:20 AM

South Sudan accuses Ugandan troops of civilian attacks

afrol News, 25 August - Southern Sudanese official has accused Ugandan soldiers of killing 10 civilians after an attack at a cattle camp in Kapoeta, about 250 kilometers east Juba.

Mr Marko Lokoroe, commissioner of Kapoeta-East, said civilians were killed by men in Ugandan army uniforms, adding that even cartridges from guns used, that were found on the ground, were similar to those used by Ugandan troops.

"In the latest attack, in which 100 cattle and 30 goats were also killed, a T-55 tank, the same model employed by Ugandan army was used," Mr Lokoroe further alleged.

However, spokesman for Uganda People's Defense Force, Major Chris Magezi said allegations are laughable, saying UPDF is a disciplined army that cannot attack civilians or use its artillery against civilians.

In July, Southern Sudanese government ordered Ugandan troops to leave its territory, blaming it of rampant civilian attacks in border with Sudan.

South Sudan's vice president, Mr Riek Machar who is also chief mediator of Ugandan peace talks has also accused UPDF of committing attacks against civilians in different parts of the country, saying if fighting Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) led by Joseph Kony was an option, south Sudan could handle the battle on its own.

Southern Sudan has allowed Ugandan forces up to 100 kilometers inside its territory since 2002 to pursue members of the rebel Lord's Resistance Army. Uganda is trying to end an insurgency by LRA in which thousands of people have died and more than 1.5 million have been forced to flee their homes.

Ugandan troops had committed to keep its forces in Southern Sudan to stop LRA rebels from returning to northern Uganda and threatening Ugandan security.

Southern Sudan became an autonomous region following 2005 signing of a peace agreement that ended a 21-year civil war between Muslim northern Sudan and mainly Christian and animist south.