Peace talks between Uganda govt, rebels adjourn

July 24, 2006 (JUBA, Sudan) — Peace talks designed to end almost two decades of conflict between Uganda’s government and Lord’s Resistance Army rebels adjourned for a week on Monday, mediators said.

South Sudan’s Vice-President Riek Machar, mediating the talks in the southern Sudanese capital Juba, told a news conference the talks would resume on July 31.

“We have made substantial progress in the talks. We have decided to adjourn for consultations. Each delegation will go and consult, and we will regroup and resume next Monday,” Machar said.

He said the two parties had discussed a number of issues including cessation of hostilities, “comprehensive solutions” to the conflict, and reconciliation and accountability.

He declined to give details of any agreements that had been reached in these areas.

Rebels and government delegates did not offer immediate comment after the adjournment of the talks, which officially opened in Juba on July 14.

Machar said the parties would discuss a ceasefire and arrangements for disarmament and reintegration of fighters when talks resume.

Relatives of LRA commanders, including LRA leader Joseph Kony’s mother Nora Oting, were due to arrive in Juba later on Monday.

The relatives, along with elders from northern Uganda, are expected to meet LRA commanders on Sudan’s border with Democratic Republic of Congo in the next few days as part of efforts to promote the peace initiative.

(Reuters)