March 26, 2003
Uganda and Rwanda should take advantage of Britain's mediation to address their security concerns, Amos Namanga Ngogi, the United Nations Secretary General's envoy to Congo, has said. Namanga said, "The UN does not take Rwanda's threats to resume war seriously and I hope these countries use the mediation efforts by Britain to resolve their differences.
"Rwanda has told us that it has taken defensive measures. But we told Rwanda that we have no problems with it as long as it takes those measures within its borders and not within Congo and does not hit the UN," Namanga told a press conference in Bunia last week. On the request of Rwanda's army chief, Maj. Gen. James Kabarebe, Rwanda's Parliament last week passed a resolution allowing the Rwanda army to redeploy in the Congo.
He said the UN Secretary General, Koffi Annan, recently spoke to Presidents Yoweri Museveni and Paul Kagame asking them to resolve their differences peacefully. Namanga said the only means to peace along Rwandan and Ugandan borders was the installation of a central government authority in Congo.
"We are addressing the security problems of these two countries by mediating between the warring Congolese parties so that a transitional government is put into place." Namanga said he did not tell UPDF troops to quit or remain in Ituri. He said when Ugandan troops were completing the withdrawal, he advised the Ugandan leaders of their (Uganda) role under Lusaka peace agreement to maintain peace and stability as an occupying force.
He was responding to the state minister for Defence, Ruth Nakabirwa's outburst on Tuesday regarding the UN's position on UPDF's presence in Bunia. Media reports had quoted Namanga as saying that he did not ask UPDF to remain in Ituri. Nakabirwa had quoted Namanga and Annan's communications of February 2, 2002 and May 4, 2001 respectively to the Minister of Defence, Amama Mbabazi.
She said both letters had requested the UPDF to remain in Bunia. There has been tension between Uganda and Rwanda.
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