South Sudan mediation may be Kony last chance – Uganda
May 26, 2006 (KAMPALA) — Uganda’s elusive rebel leader may have left it too late to negotiate a peaceful settlement to the country’s 20-year civil war, but efforts by the government of southern Sudan to broker peace talks could be his last chance, a senior official said Friday.
Acting Minister of State for Defense Ruth Nankabirwa was speaking days after Joseph Kony — whose rebel Lord’s Resistance Army has killed, raped, mutilated and abducted thousands in Sudan and Uganda — was shown on video telling officials in the autonomous southern Sudan that he isn’t a terrorist but a misunderstood political leader.
Kony and four of his top lieutenants have been indicted by the Netherlands-based International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity and war crimes. Uganda, Sudan and Congo have agreed to serve arrest warrants issued by the court, but government officials in recent weeks appear to be focusing on negotiating with him.
The Ugandan rebels operate mostly from bases in southern Sudan, but some fighters fled to eastern Congo late last year following pressure from Ugandan troops who have been allowed to operate in Sudan.
Small, highly mobile rebel groups continue to hide in northern Uganda, where they launch sporadic attacks on civilians.
On May 17, Uganda’s government spokesman said President Yoweri Museveni has offered to protect Kony if he agrees to end the conflict.
Museveni’s offer came days after Southern Sudan’s Vice President Riek Machar met Kony and assured him that he would close the border with Uganda and lock out Ugandan troops if the neighboring country refuses to join peace talks.
“I want to assure you that we have taken a decision that we mediate between you and your government,” Uganda’s independent Daily Monitor newspaper quoted Machar as telling Kony. “We want peace in southern Sudan, We want peace in northern Uganda. That is what we are committed to.”
Southern Sudan is pushing to resolve Kony’s insurgency to secure the region that is preparing for reconstruction after its own 21-year civil war.
(ST/AP)