Uganda-LRA talks resume in south Sudan
Aug 18, 2006 (JUBA) — Talks between Ugandan officials and the rebel Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) resumed in south Sudan on Friday, after several delays postponed negotiations to end one of Africa’s longest wars.
South Sudan’s regional government is trying to broker an end to one of the world’s most brutal insurgencies launched by the LRA 20 years ago from northern Uganda, which has killed tens of thousands and displaced nearly two million people.
Talks were postponed to Friday this week after troops killed a top rebel wanted by the International Criminal Court. The guerrillas had called for three days to mourn him.
The delegations were meeting behind closed doors in a hotel in south Sudan’s capital, Juba.
“Today has marked the end of mourning of our slain commander killed by the Ugandan forces in cold blood,” LRA spokesman Obonyo Olweny told Reuters.
“We have come back for negotiations and we are also ready for face-to-face interaction with the Ugandan government.”
The LRA said this week it had asked South Africa, which has played a lead role in mediating conflicts in Africa, to join in the negotiations.
But South African foreign ministry spokesman Ronie Mamoepa said on Friday he was “not aware of any official communication from the LRA.”
LRA deputy leader Vincent Otti said earlier this month he was losing faith in the mediation of south Sudan’s Vice President Riek Machar, accusing him of scheming to have him arrested should he appear in Juba.
Machar told journalists south Sudan President Salva Kiir would fly to Kampala on Saturday to meet Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni for talks. The head of the Ugandan delegation, Internal Affairs Minister Ruhakana Rugunda, would also attend.
He said observers and military experts from U.N. forces in southern Sudan had briefed both parties on ceasefire issues.
The talks were adjourned for two days last week after both sides failed to agree on terms for a cessation of hostilities.
A Uganda military spokesman said on Wednesday troops had shot dead up to 15 LRA fighters in the two weeks since the LRA declared a ceasefire, accusing them of breaking their own truce.
(Reuters)