Gen. Mbadi, Red Cross officials discuss Eastern DRC operations

Christoph Sutter, the regional head of the international humanitarian body that has been operating in Uganda since 1971, said that they value their relationship with Uganda, which hosts the regional office that covers Uganda, Rwanda, and Burundi. “We are happy to have chosen Kampala for the regional office because it allows us to interact closely with our ICRC colleagues in DRC, South Sudan, Sudan, Somalia, and Ethiopia,” he said, according to a January 16 statement.

He said the meeting was to seek advice on how to strengthen the relationship between the two entities. “We always value the advice of Uganda and the analysis that Uganda can share with us on the regional dynamics of what is happening in these countries, especially in Eastern DRC,” he said.

The international body conducts training activities and re-deployment preparation of the UPDF deployed in conflict areas. It also deals with local organisations, for example, the water project with the National Water and Sewerage Cooperation (NWSC) in Kisoro, which is a huge initiative offered by the international community.

He appreciated the good collaboration with UPDF, especially CMI’s permission for them to access detainees, find minors lost in DRC, trace their families, and reintegrate the children with them. He was very happy about his organisation’s collaboration with UPDF in managing refugees in Kisoro. He reminded the meeting that ICRC would soon finalise a Memorandum of Understanding with UPDF on their operations and interaction with their colleagues in the DRC.

Gen. Mbadi noted that ICRC can always reach out to the nearest UPDF leadership in Operation Shujaa for any notifications such as movement of their aircraft across areas of joint operations and vehicles passing through UPDF Unit deployments in DRC.

“Even with the ADF we differentiate between the misleaders and misled especially children forcefully conscripted or persuaded by lies. We don’t kill those who surrender. ADF leader Njovu who was captured alive is in our prisons. However, we cannot avoid having a few errant individuals who we have handled and continue to handle with our law and vibrant justice system,” Mbadi said.

The CDF stated that international humanitarian law was now in the school curriculum highlighting the dos and don’ts in war and conflict areas.