US calls for final peace deal between Uganda warring parties

March 21, 2008 (WASHINGTON) — The U.S. State Department on Friday urged the Ugandan government and the rebel Lord’s Resistance Army to sign a final peace deal to formally end decades of fighting, a spokesman said.

“We urge the parties to sign the final peace agreement on or before March 28 to demonstrate their commitment to peace and to send a strong signal of that commitment to both the international community and northern Ugandans,” said State Department spokesman Sean McCormack.

Earlier this month, the parties signed an extension to a ceasefire in Juba, the capital of the semi-autonomous region of South Sudan, where negotiators for Uganda’s government and LRA rebels have been holding peace talks since 2006.

The extension expires March 28.

“As an observing party, we intend to participate fully in the proposed Oversight Forum, which would be formed to assist with implementation of the agreements,” McCormack said.

“We will continue collaboration with the government of Uganda to provide development support for northern Uganda and demobilization, disarmament, and resettlement assistance for ex-combatants.”

The fighting, which has stretched on for 22 years, has left tens of thousands dead and displaced two million people, mainly in northern Uganda. Several thousands have been killed in southern Sudan where the LRA have camps.

(AFP)