When Gowon arrived in Arua, West Nile, he initially laid low and planned his possible exile. However, he eventually chanced upon a detachement of Ugandan soldiers who knew him. These troopers arrested him as traitor, and confiscated his wealth. By chance, Gowon's old ally Mustafa Adrisi visited Arua shortly after his arrest, and ordered his release. Adrisi told Gowon that he should flee Uganda as soon as possible, and the former Chief of Staff followed this recommendation. He was unsure whether to go into exile in Zaire or Sudan, but chose the former because most Amin loyalists – who intended to kill him – were fleeing to Sudan. Gowon initially found refuge with Catholic missionaries. Meanwhile, Amin's regime collapsed as the Tanzanians and their Ugandan rebel allies occupied Kampala, prompting most Uganda Army loyalists to flee into Sudan and Zaire. Zairean dictator Mobutu Sese Seko allowed the Ugandan exiles, including Gowon, to stay in his country. As many believed that Gowon had actually been bribed by the Tanzanians and lost the war on purpose, he became a "persona non grata" among the Ugandan exiles and thus excluded from plans by Amin loyalists to launch a rebellion to regain power. Gowon was actually pleased about this, as he had no interest in resuming fighting.