The man surrendered to US military personnel in the Central African Republic, where they are helping African troops hunt for LRA leaders wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC), the Associated Press reported. It quoted US State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki as saying Tuesday that the man claimed to be an LRA defector.
"Efforts to establish full and positive identification continue," Psaki told reporters in Washington. "If the individual proves to be Ongwen, his defection would represent a historic blow to the LRA's command structure."
Ongwen is considered by some to be the deputy commander of Lord’s Resistance Army leader Joseph Kony. He is wanted by the ICC for war crimes and crimes against humanity. Ongwen claims to have been snatched by the LRA as a child.
Kony's rebellion began in Uganda and is accused of some of the world's worst atrocities including mass killings and keeping girls as sex slaves. In recent years, the LRA has been sowing terror in other countries of the region.
Ugandan Army spokesman Paddy Ankunda told AP that the man claiming to be Ongwen was being held in the town of Obo in the east of the Central African Republic.
JC