Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Kampala (Agenzia Fides)- The first week of peace talks between the Ugandan government and the LRA Lord’s Resistance Army rebel group ended yesterday 24 July.
The delegations met in Juba, government the capital of Southern Sudan thanks to mediation by the vice president of the Southern Sudan government Riak Machar and the Rome based Catholic socially active association Community of S. Egidio. Machar ended the first round of talks announcing progress in three of five discussion points: cessation of hostilities, reconciliation and return of internally displaced persons to their villages.
The delegations will discuss the results of the talks with their respective leaders before resuming negotiations on Monday 31 July for the 2nd round to tackle the questions of disarmament, demobilisation of combatants and reinsertion in Ugandan civil society.
The head of the Ugandan government delegation, Internal Minister Ruhakan Rugunda, congratulated the government of Southern Sudan for bringing the sides to the negotiating table and for the relaxed and cordial atmosphere which marked the meeting and thanked Southern Sudan vice-president for his activity of mediation.
The leader of the LRA delegation, Martin Ojul, also thanked the Southern Sudan government for the unprecedented meeting of the two sides.
Mr Mario Giro of the Community of S. Egidio expressed appreciation for the constructive spirit of the meeting and said he hoped these were the first steps towards ending the war in northern Uganda.
The terrible war in northern Uganda has lasted for 20 years causing the death of hundreds of thousands, the abduction of an estimated 25,000 children by the LRA and a high number of child soldiers. Almost 2 million internally displaced persons live in camps in serious humanitarian conditions. Peace would allow them to return to their villages.
To facilitate the talks on 4 July Ugandan president Yoweri Museveni announced a total amnesty for LRA leader Kony, on the condition that the rebel leaders renounce terrorism and accept peace. On 5 July the spokesman of the International Criminal Court reminded the governments of Uganda, Sudan and Democratic Congo of their obligation to arrest. Besides the LRA leader Joseph Kony, mandates for arrest concern LRA leaders: Vincent Otti, Okot Odhiambo, Dominic Ongwen and Raska Lukwiya. All are accused of crimes against humanity and war crimes in Uganda since July 2002 in a brutal campaign against civilians which has lasted 20 years. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 25/7/2006 righe 46 parole 493)
