February9, 2007:The African Union has provided funds for the Ugandan peacekeepingforce in Somalia. The AU contributed $11.6 million (US). Uganda will send 1,400troops, including some armored vehicles. Uganda has said that the troops couldbe in Somalia up to nine months.
February8, 2007: Sudan's Eastern Equatoria state ordered LRA rebels to leave theregion. The LRA was accused of launching attacks and committing crimes inSudan. These LRA were not participating in the peace talks sponsored bythe Sudanese government. Two months ago the LRA was accused of participating inseveral ambushes in south Sudan of Sudanese civilians. There were also reportsof robberies and vehicle thefts. Forcing the LRA to leave southern Sudan ispotentially a major setback for the Uganda-LRA peace process. That noted, theUgandan government has been saying it will continue to negotiate with the LRAand is even willing to consider dropping criminal charges against senior LRAmembers. The Ugandan government, however, favors continuing the talks in Juba.On February 4, Uganda said that it would take "South Africa and Kenya threemonths" to "understand the issues of Uganda." The LRA said in January that itwould no longer conduct negotiations in southern Sudan. Kenya and South Africahave been suggested as other venues for negotiations, but the LRA commandersalso fear that international criminal warrants could be served on them in Kenyaand South Africa. Kenya has indicated that it would not host peace talks. TheKenyan government wants the talks in Juba to continue. Uganda has goodrelations with south Sudan (which is increasingly creating its own regionalpolicy—one slightly different from the Sudan government). Uganda has beennegotiating a "bilateral cooperation agreement" with the government of southSudan. This is basically a trade agreement proposed by South Sudan.
February5, 2007: The Ugandan government said that it was deploying 1000 policemen inthe police Anti-Stock Theft Unit to the eastern portion of Pader district. Thearea has been plagued by cattle rustlers.