LRA rebels surrender in Yambio, Western Equatoria, southern Sudan

Lord’s Resistance Army rebels surrender in Sudan
From Afrik.com by Geof Magga Thursday, 22 April 2010

Two Lords Resistance army (LRA) rebels yesterday surrendered to the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) in Yambio town in Western Equatoria state of southern Sudan.

According to SPLA spokesman, major general Kuol Deim Kuol the two fighters surrendered peacefully without fighting.

"Two soldiers of the Ugandan rebel group Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) have surrendered in Yambio in Western Equatoria State. They said that they escaped from Central African Republic where they recently survived an ambush by Uganda peoples defence force.

Kuol said one of the fighters who surrendered was at the rank of captain in the rebel army, while the other was a private.

LRA rebels led by Joseph Kony have killed thousands of people in Uganda, southern Sudan Democratic republic of Congo and of recent in Central African Republic.

The LRA rebel group started in northern Uganda in mid 1980’s by former alter boy Joseph Kony who claimed that he was fighting bad governance but using the bible’s ten commandments as guidelines for his war.

During the late 1990’s Ugandan government troops mounted pressure on the rebels making them flee to southern Sudan where they built a base.

In 2006 the rebels accepted to talk peace with the Ugandan government, but they dragged on for two years.

When the talks were concluded in 2008, Joseph Kony refused to sign the final peace agreement which led to the joint force of Uganda, Congolese and southern Sudanese troops to attack his base in Garanba forest at the boarder between Southern Sudan and Congo.

Joseph Kony and his fighters escaped to Central African Republic where they have been killing and mutilating people. Ugandan forces have pursued them there.

Last month, Ugandan President announced that Joseph Kony had fled into Darfur which is under the government of Sudan. He also announced that the feared and ruthless rebel leader will not be allowed to stand trial at the International Criminal Court in The Hague and that he will definitely be hanged, should the authorities lay their hands on him.