Uganda, rebel LRA to start talks next week in Sudan’s Juba
June 1, 2006 (KAMPALA) — Preparations are underway for SPLM sponsored peace talks between the Ugandan Government and the rebel LRA chief Joseph Kony in the Southern Sudan capital Juba.
Southern Sudan Vice-President Riek Machar said the talks would begin next week, the New Vision reported today.
Sudan’s Vice-President and President of Southern Sudan, Salva Kiir, said, “When we start to talk with Kony and the Government of Uganda, in a very short time, we will bring peace to northern Uganda and by that we would also bring peace to southern Sudan.”
The Ugandan ambassador to Khartoum, Mull Katende, said they were waiting to hear from Kony.
Machar said on Tuesday that initially, the two delegations will go to Juba and decide where they want to have the talks.
Army spokesman Maj. Felix Kulayigye, however, yesterday said, “What we are aware of is the President’s decision to give Kony another chance after meeting Salva Kiir here in Kampala.
“We wish Kiir good luck. We are waiting for LRA to respond to what the President has offered. We have, however, not declared a ceasefire.”
In a related incident, Kiir has defended giving aid to Kony, saying it will help start peace talks and stop them looting and killing in the south.
In a videotaped meeting in early May between Riek Machar and Kony, Machar secured a request for peace talks and handed Kony $20,000 to buy “food… not ammunition.”
The cash donation, however, angered the Ugandan government, which said it would not trust Kony with such money. It said Kony could use the money to buy arms.
Analysts say good relations between Machar and Kony could help to engage serious negotiations between the Ugandan parties. But Uganda is suspicious that LRA could be using this opportunity to regroup and recruit.
Machar links with Kony date back to the mid-1990 when they were both fighting the SPLA on behalf of the Sudanese regime.
Kiir said the LRA had chosen peace and approached his government to mediate the talks. Kampala has given Kony until the end of July to stop the rebellion before talks.
“This is the only way to stop them from killing, from raping … what is wrong with that if that can bring them back to law abiding citizens of Uganda?” Kiir asked reporters late on Monday night in Khartoum.
(ST)