Vincent Otti is wanted by The Hague for war crimes
The deputy leader of Uganda's rebel Lord's Resistance Army is missing, feared dead, after reports of a falling out with LRA leader Joseph Kony.
A spokesman for Uganda's Peoples' Defence Forces, Lt Chris Magezi, told Radio Uganda the army has information that Vincent Otti was killed weeks ago.
He is one of four LRA leaders indicted by the International Criminal Court.
The LRA were notorious for mutilating victims and kidnapping children to be fighters, porters and sex slaves.
Sources in southern Sudan usually in close contact with Mr Otti confirm they have not had any recent communication.
Security sources quoted in the state-owned New Vision newspaper say Okot Odhiambo has been appointed as LRA deputy.
Ugandan military sources say they have intercepted satellite telephone calls made by Mr Kony, indicating that his men had killed Mr Otti in a power struggle within the LRA.
But an LRA spokesman visiting Uganda, Martin Ojul, denied rumours of a split in the leadership and said Mr Otti has been suffering from cholera.
Mr Ojul is currently leading an LRA delegation in an unprecedented six-week authorised visit to northern Uganda, including visiting refugee camps, to meet some of the victims of the 20-year insurgency.
The delegation will then return to peace talks mediated by the Sudan Peoples' Liberation Movement (SPLM) government in southern Sudan.
No comments:
Post a Comment