Uganda Government, rebel delegations resume talks in Juba

The government and the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) have resumed talks aimed at ending the 22-year conflict in northern Uganda and agreed to extend by a month the cessation of hostilities deal signed in August 2007.

The talks, in the Southern Sudanese town of Juba, are being attended by observers from the US, the UN, European Union and several African states.

Describing the presence of observers as a boost, the mediator and Southern Sudanese Vice-President Riek Machar said they would assist him "when there are difficult issues and help the parties to come out with a position".

The US welcomed the talks and Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Jendayi Frazer asked her senior adviser for conflict resolution, Tim Shortley, "to work with the mediator and parties on moving the peace process forward".

The US, however, said the process could not be open-ended and urged the parties to work expeditiously on accountability and reconciliation.

Earlier, the Ugandan government had said it was returning to Juba with one aim - to finalise the parley and sign a comprehensive peace agreement.

Ruth Nankabirwa, minister of state for defence, said her government expected "an expeditious conclusion of the talks" after the parties agree two outstanding items - a ceasefire and a programme of Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration.

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The talks have been on hold since June to allow for consultations, and have resumed despite the death of Vincent Otti, former LRA deputy leader, in October.

"Definitely, Otti was key to the talks and he was the person we were interacting with more, but we are determined to continue with the talks. They have changed their negotiation team but we are ready to talk to whoever the LRA has officially authorised to represent it at the talks," Ruhakana Rugunda, the chief government negotiator, told IRIN.

LRA leader Joseph Kony has since also reshuffled his negotiating team, replacing Martin Ojul with Matsanga Nyekorac - causing some unease in Kampala.

Matsanga expressed commitment to the talks but criticised the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda, claiming they were planning to attack the LRA. LRA forces are currently based in DRC’s Garamba National Park.

It was shocking, he said, that as the talks were resuming "some forces were planning to launch attacks against LRA forces", adding that his movement condemned such threats in the strongest possible terms.

Ugandan military officials in Kampala denied the claims, saying reports that the army would attack the LRA after 31 January were not accurate.

The conflict has killed thousands of people and uprooted almost two million others from their homes in northern Uganda. Relative calm was restored with the start of the talks in 2006, prompting many people to return to their homes.
 
The top LRA leaders have been indicted by the International Criminal Court for war crimes and crimes against humanity, but the rebel movement has demanded that these indictments be dropped before they sign a peace agreement.

Both sides are exploring ways to adopt national justice systems as an alternative to the ICC prosecutions, saying this will achieve reconciliation.

IRIN.