Uganda, DR Congo near deal to flush out ADF

Uganda's President Museveni has said discussions with Democratic Republic of Congo President Felix Tshisekedi on the security situation in Eastern Congo are progressing well, adding that terrorists will not come out without pressure.

“The main problem in this area is insecurity for some time now coming out of Eastern Congo. The only new thing is that President Tshisekedi is listening to our advice on what can be done. We are discussing with him since he came into power,” he said.

The President was on Thursday speaking during a meeting with the Special Envoy of the United Nations Secretary General for the Great Lakes Region, Mr Huang Xia, at State House, Entebbe.

“We shall continue discussing until we can get a solution. We are moving well. This is not a difficult problem; these terrorists are a shallow force socially. They have been here given free territory for almost 20 years. It is also not fair under the United Nations and the African Union to conserve a problem for others. We can’t build a wall along the land border with Congo. We are discussing with Tshisekedi and once we conclude we will let you know. Economic development has to come in, terrorists will not come out without pressure,” he said.

President Museveni said he was glad to hear that the United Nations Security Council was favourable to the events taking place in the Great Lakes Region particularly infrastructure development between Uganda and the DR Congo that will promote economic development.

“I am glad to hear that the UNSC is supportive but crucial actors are the regional countries and the DR Congo. If they act, there will be a solution. If not, the problem will be preserved until people in Eastern Congo raise up. The DR Congo should work with the local people because the local people don’t want insecurity,” he said.