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Government "ready" to pull out of DRC

[Benin] President Mathieu Kerekou of Benin, July 2005. Sylvia d'Almeida
President Mathieu Kerekou in July 2005
    COTONOU

    The Ugandan government is "ready" to pull out of the DRC so long as it can find a "neutral" force to safeguard its security concerns, government officials confirmed to IRIN on Monday. They said once security of the country was guaranteed, Uganda would withdraw from DRC soil.

    "The position of the government of Uganda is very clear, our concern is security," State Minister in charge of presidency Rukahana Rugunda told IRIN. He said once the country was certain foreign troops had pulled out to allow for a comprehensive ceasefire, "we will have no business being in that country. We will leave DRC to solve its on problems".

    "If we get any neutral force that can take charge of our military concerns we will pull out soonest," a defence ministry source added. He told IRIN the presence of Ugandan soldiers in the DRC was legitimate and in line with a previous agreement between the two countries. Analysts say donors are pressuring Uganda to disengage from DRC.

    This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions

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