VZCZCXRO6196
OO RUEHROV RUEHTRO
DE RUEHKH #1405/01 3490819
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 150819Z DEC 09
FM AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4891
INFO RUEHGI/AMEMBASSY BANGUI PRIORITY 0036
RUEHKM/AMEMBASSY KAMPALA PRIORITY 0001
RUEHKI/AMEMBASSY KINSHASA PRIORITY 0105
RUEHNR/AMEMBASSY NAIROBI PRIORITY 0001
RUCNIAD/IGAD COLLECTIVE
RUEHGG/UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE
RHMFISS/CJTF HOA
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 KHARTOUM 001405
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
NSC FOR MGAVIN, LETIM
DEPT PLS PASS USAID FOR AFR/SUDAN
ADDIS ABABA ALSO FOR USAU
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREF PGOV PHUM PREL MOPS SU UG CG CT
SUBJECT: SOUTHERN SUDAN LRA UPDATE, DECEMBER 14, 2009
REF: STATE 118217
KHARTOUM 00001405 001.2 OF 004
1. (SBU) Summary: While the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) activities
have diminished in Western Equatoria since September, there are
reports that the LRA has moved operations into Raja County, Western
Bahr el-Ghazal, and unconfirmed reports of movement into South
Darfur. The Ugandan People's Defense Force (UPDF) along with the
Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) continue to work together to
target the LRA, but remain hampered by a lack of logistical
resources and limited access to reliable intelligence. The numbers
of refugees and internally-displaced persons (IDPs) remain very
high, with the majority of those affected being non-verified IDPs.
Other issues of concern remain the nomadic Amboro tribe and food
security in Western Equatoria, and the use of the "arrow boys" - a
state-sanctioned community security response to the LRA. End
Summary.
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LRA Attacks
-----------
2. (SBU) During the month of November, LRA attacks in Southern Sudan
continued, albeit at a much lower rate than reported in the months
of August and September of 2009. While the LRA continued to operate
in Western Equatoria and over the border in Central African Republic
(CAR), new reports of LRA activity in Raja County of Western Bahr
el-Ghazal and rumors of activity in South Darfur began to surface in
October. The UN, SPLA and UPDF have confirmed that the LRA attacked
Boramedina in Raja on October 21. The attack was on a much larger
scale than normal for the LRA, with almost LRA attacking the town
and possibly another 20 LRA securing its perimeter. The group
abducted 49 people to act as porters and killed three. There were
additional smaller attacks in Western Equatoria in November.
3. (SBU) The SPLA reported that during the first week of November
there were seven incidents, which resulted in one civilian death,
the abduction of one civilian, the surrender of three LRA and the
escape or rescue of eleven abductees. During a November 24-26 visit
to Yambio, the UNMIS Resident Coordinator for Yambio, Adewuyi
Adewumi, confirmed reports that the LRA had attacked the area of
Sakure on November 12 and 13. A group of seven LRA entered the town
of Sakure and told members of the community that they wished to
surrender to the UPDF, but asked to meet with the tribal elders
first. Once the elders arrived, the group attacked, killing four
civilians and abducting ten. The UPDF pursued the group, and while
in pursuit, found another three bodies outside of the village which
they believe were killed by the same LRA group.
4. (SBU) SPLA and UPDF reporting indicates that LRA activity is
ongoing in Western Equatoria, particularly in the areas of Ezo and
Tambura counties as well as over the border in CAR and DRC. Since
late September the SPLA and UPDF are reporting the movement of the
LRA further north into Western Bahr el-Ghazal and as far south as
the town of Daffak in Southern Darfur. (Note: Although the
Government of Sudan's (GOS) Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) acknowledged
clashing with rebels in the area in early October, the GOS dit nou
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