February28, 2007:
The government has contacted representatives of the Islamic Courts
militia in Somalia to "discuss" Uganda's peacekeeping deployment in Somalia.
The Ugandan peacekeepers will not disarm (the Islamists) but "help the
transitional government" (of Somalia) do so. The Ugandans stress that their
forces are not a threat to the Islamic Courts. The United States is paying for
the peacekeeping mission, via the African Union.
February
22, 2007: The LRA said that all of its forces had left the two assembly areas
in south Sudan: Ri-Kwangba and Owiny Ki-Bul. Both areas are near the Sudan's
border with the Congo. The LRA rebels have "security concerns." But LRA
rebels are leaving the assembly areas, which were a key part of the peace
negotiations. The ceasefire expires at the end of February. However, both the
government and the LRA have indicated they intend to keep the peace process going.
February
19, 2007: The army returned 1,100 cattle stolen cattle to herdsmen in the
Karamoja district. The cattle had been stolen by approximately 200 Karamojong
warriors. The army recovered the cattle after a firefight with the warriors. At
least 80 warriors died in the fight. The soldiers were supported by recon
helicopters. The return of the cattle caps a difficult week in Karamoja. On
February 12 the Karamojong warriors fired on a group of soldiers and killed
four. The army reinforced the brigade (about 2000 troops) in the area and
counter-attacked. The cattle were recovered as part of the operation.