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Disarmament operations continue in Haut Mbomou in the south-east of the Central African Republic.

These operations primarily concern elements of the Ugandan rebellion of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA). These veterans have expressed a desire to lay down their arms. A mission from the ministry responsible for disarmament has been in the region since last week. The mission led by the Minister Delegate for Disarmament, Gilbert Toumo Déya, first arrived in Obo on Friday 22 April, before descending on the towns of Mboki and Zemio. This mission was to be responsible solely for the disarmament of LRA elements who themselves expressed the desire to lay down their arms. The first operations in Mboki enabled more than 250 elements, men, women and children to hand over their weapons. But faced with the situation on the ground, the team also acceded to the request of the elements of the Central African People’s Unit (UPC) who wished to voluntarily lay down their arms. For 2 days, the disarmament team has been in Zemio to discuss with the local authorities as well as the leaders of this group. According to the head of this mission, during the Zemio operation, from Wednesday, April 27, more than 200 LRA elements, including those of Ali Darassa’s UPC, will also be disarmed. The team notes an enthusiasm on the part of the fighters. “They will have to be nearly 500 to hand over their weapons”, indicates the mission. The Haut Mbomou region has been under the influence of armed groups since 2008 with the arrival of the LRA, the Ugandan rebellion, then with the advent of the Séléka in 2013. The UPC, one of the branches of the Séléka, has made this part of the CAR one of its strongholds. Source: Radio Ndeke Luka

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