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Top Kenyan militia commanders surrender: official
Nairobi (AFP) June 22, 2008 Three top commanders of a Kenyan tribal militia have surrendered, dealing a blow to fighters who have killed hundreds and displaced thousands of people, an official said Sunday. Stephen Juma Kirui -- who replaced former Sabaot Land Defence Force (SLDF) commander Wycliffe Kirui Matakwei, killed in a May shoot-out with the Kenyan army -- was joined by Samson Kanai and Geoffrey Makwere in surrendering to the military at a camp near Mount Elgon region, area provincial commissioner Abdul Mwasera said. "Let the others surrender because there will be no place for them to hide," Mwasera added. Speaking before the army, Kirui said they decided to surrender after realising that fighting would not resolve the land crisis that has raged for three years. Since March, the military has cracked down on the SLDF. The movement has been been fighting to reverse a government settlement scheme that displaced the small Sabaot tribe from their ancestral land. The militia's raids have claimed the lives at least 600 villagers and displaced tens of thousands, many of whom are still camped in police posts, churches and schools. Several humanitarian and rights groups have accused both the Kenyan army and SLDF of a raft of rights violations, including the rape and torture of civilians in the remote region that borders Uganda. The army has rejected these accusations, instead saying its campaign has restored stability in Mount Elgon. "This is a false accusation and it is important that the public be informed of the truth," army spokesman Bogita Ongeri said in an article published a Sunday Nation. "It must be emphasized that no professional military, which ours is, would be interested in torture while seeking to win the hearts and minds of the populace in the area of operation," he added. Ongeri said since the crackdown started, 3,779 SLDF militiamen had been arrested, of which 1,162 were handed in by the locals who have endured suffering. Some 73 rifles and 748 rounds of ammunition have been recovered, he added. Related Links Africa News - Resources, Health, Food
Central African government, rebels sign peace accord
Libreville (AFP) June 21, 2008The Central African Republic's government and two rebel groups signed a "comprehensive peace agreement" on Saturday which leaves the door open for a third rebel group to sign on. |
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