PANAPRESS
Panafrican News Agency
AU concerned over LRA activities
Khartoum, Sudan (PANA) - The African Union’s Peace and Security Council on Tuesday expressed deep concern over what it termed as the criminal activities of Uganda’s shadowy rebel group, the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA), and its impact on the population of the region.
“Council expressed its deep concern at the continuing criminal activities of the LRA and its devastating effects on local populations in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the Republic of South Sudan and Central African Republic, as well as on regional security and stability,” the council said in a statement following its meeting in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, Tuesday.
It stressed the need for the affected member states to persevere in their efforts for the efficient implementation of the AU regional cooperation initiative aimed at bringing to an end the criminal activities of LRA.
The AU Peace and Security Council was briefed by the Commissioner for Peace and Security on the activities relating to the AU regional cooperation initiative for the elimination of LRA, the statement said.
The statement said the council welcomed the adoption by the United Nations Security Council, on 21 July, 2011, of a press statement in which the members of this organ strongly condemned the ongoing attacks carried out by LRA; commended the important efforts being undertaken by the military of CAR, DRC, the Republic of South Sudan and Uganda, to address the threat posed by LRA and emphasized the importance of sustained coordinated action by these governments.
The council said it encouraged the UN Secretary-General to provide support to the AU Commission, through the planning process for the implementation of the relevant AU decisions on LRA and requested the UN Office for Central Africa (UNOCA), in collaboration with the UN Office to the AU (UNOAU), to engage with AU to facilitate cooperation between UN and AU on issues related to countering the threat posed by LRA.
The statement said the council also congratulated the affected member states for the cooperation they had developed amongst themselves and for their efforts against LRA, as well as for their collaboration with the commission in implementing the relevant AU decisions on LRA.
“The council also commended the commission for the steps already taken in pursuance of the AU decisions, including the first regional ministerial meeting on LRA, held in Bangui, Central African Republic (CAR), on 13 and 14 October, 2010, the joint technical assessment mission involving experts from the commission and the member states affected by LRA activities, conducted from 16 March to 5 April, 2011 and the second regional ministerial meeting on LRA,” the statement said.
The statement said the council reiterated the call by the Malabo session of the Assembly of the Union to the United Nations and other AU partners, to support the regional cooperation initiative for the elimination of LRA, in particular through the timely provision of financial and logistical support.
-0- PANA MO/BOS 27Sept2011
“Council expressed its deep concern at the continuing criminal activities of the LRA and its devastating effects on local populations in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the Republic of South Sudan and Central African Republic, as well as on regional security and stability,” the council said in a statement following its meeting in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, Tuesday.
It stressed the need for the affected member states to persevere in their efforts for the efficient implementation of the AU regional cooperation initiative aimed at bringing to an end the criminal activities of LRA.
The AU Peace and Security Council was briefed by the Commissioner for Peace and Security on the activities relating to the AU regional cooperation initiative for the elimination of LRA, the statement said.
The statement said the council welcomed the adoption by the United Nations Security Council, on 21 July, 2011, of a press statement in which the members of this organ strongly condemned the ongoing attacks carried out by LRA; commended the important efforts being undertaken by the military of CAR, DRC, the Republic of South Sudan and Uganda, to address the threat posed by LRA and emphasized the importance of sustained coordinated action by these governments.
The council said it encouraged the UN Secretary-General to provide support to the AU Commission, through the planning process for the implementation of the relevant AU decisions on LRA and requested the UN Office for Central Africa (UNOCA), in collaboration with the UN Office to the AU (UNOAU), to engage with AU to facilitate cooperation between UN and AU on issues related to countering the threat posed by LRA.
The statement said the council also congratulated the affected member states for the cooperation they had developed amongst themselves and for their efforts against LRA, as well as for their collaboration with the commission in implementing the relevant AU decisions on LRA.
“The council also commended the commission for the steps already taken in pursuance of the AU decisions, including the first regional ministerial meeting on LRA, held in Bangui, Central African Republic (CAR), on 13 and 14 October, 2010, the joint technical assessment mission involving experts from the commission and the member states affected by LRA activities, conducted from 16 March to 5 April, 2011 and the second regional ministerial meeting on LRA,” the statement said.
The statement said the council reiterated the call by the Malabo session of the Assembly of the Union to the United Nations and other AU partners, to support the regional cooperation initiative for the elimination of LRA, in particular through the timely provision of financial and logistical support.
-0- PANA MO/BOS 27Sept2011
