UN Hails Uganda's Decision to Withdraw Troops From Congo

A United Nations Security Council team of 12 ambassadors lauded Friday Uganda's decision to withdraw most of its troops from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

"I want to pay tribute to you (Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni) about the decision you made to withdraw most of your troops from the DRC," said Jean-David Levitte, French ambassador to the U.N. and head of the team, after holding talks with President Museveni.

"It sets an excellent example for other foreign forces," Levitte told journalists at the State House in the Ugandan capital Kampala.

He stressed that all other foreign forces should withdraw from the DRC according to the 1999 Lusaka peace agreement, adding that they will engage step by step in the complete withdrawal from that country.

Earlier on Thursday, the U.N. team said in Tanzania that the security concerns of Uganda and other countries, which include the disarmament and resettlement of militia groups with bases in the DRC, should be addressed before the Lusaka peace accord can be fully implemented.

The team said other "negative forces" include rebels from Burundi, Uganda and Angola.

"It is of key importance that these so-called negative forces are disarmed," said Levitte.

The U.N. team ended its mission to the Great Lake region in Kampala on Friday.






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