C.A.R Rebels Demand $5M Reward For Capturing Ugandan Militia Leader

Written by Staff

Jan 09, 2015

Seleka rebels in the Central Africa Republic (CAR) say they should get a reward for capturing a Ugandan militia leader wanted for war crimes.

Dominic Ongwen, a senior commander in the rebel Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), was taken into US custody this week.

The US had offered up to $5m (£3.3m) as a reward for information leading to his arrest, transfer or conviction.

A Seleka commander said he was captured after a 25-minute battle, after which they informed US forces in the area.

A US official had said that Mr Ongwen had surrendered to their forces.

Seleka plunged CAR into months of lawlessness when they seized the capital, Bangui, in 2013.

Ugandan officials say Mr Ongwen will be transferred to their custody in the coming days.

Known as the “White Ant”, he is considered by some to be a deputy commander to LRA chief Joseph Kony and is wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for war crimes and crimes against humanity.

The LRA has abducted thousands of children in northern Uganda, and neighbouring countries, forcing the boys to become fighters and the girls to become sex slaves.