Addis Ababa, Ethiopia - The United States said Wednesday it welcomed the African Union’s appointment of Francisco Caetano Jose Madeira as its Special Envoy for the Counter-Insurgency operation against the Ugandan Lords Resistance Army (LRA).
"Madeira is a seasoned diplomat with extensive experience working on issues of regional security and counter-terrorism. We hope he will work quickly to enhance cooperation among militaries in the region and promote a regional framework for the defection, disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of rank-and-file LRA fighters and abductees," the US said in a statement.

The US said it was encouraged by the AU’s growing engagement towards addressing the LRA, a Ugandan rebel group that has been traversing the territories of South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the Central African Republic (CAR).

"The United States looks forward to working with Madeira as we continue to work with the governments of Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Republic of South Sudan and Uganda," the US statement said.

According to the US, it had sent special operation forces to track down the members of the notorious rebel group.

The AU said the special forces, numbering about 100, would not be involved in direct combat with LRA. Its work is to hunt down the commanders of the rebel group.

"It is significant that African leaders from across the continent have come together to condemn the LRA’s atrocities and express support for regional efforts to bring Joseph Kony and LRA top commanders to justice," the US mission in Addis Ababa, which initiated the operation against Kony, said.

The US said it was committed to working with the AU, the United Nations and the governments in the region to mitigate and eliminate the threat posed to civilians and regional stability by the LRA.

Pana 24/11/2011