Uganda rebel leader Kony wants to sign the peace agreement – Envoy
By James Gatdet Dak
July 5, 2008 (JUBA) – The former President of Mozambique and United Nations Secretary General’s Special Envoy for the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) affected areas, Joachim Chissano, on Saturday in Juba, announced that the LRA leader, Joseph Kony contacted him on phone affirming his commitment to sign the Final Peace Agreement (FPA) with the Uganda government.
Machar explained that the meeting was to revive the peace process and arrange for Joseph Kony to sign the FPA.
Chissano said Joseph Kony had requested to meet with the Chief Mediator, Dr. Machar first to arrange for a date on which the Final Peace Agreement could be signed by him.
Machar confirmed to the press that he would arrange for such a meeting with the LRA leader soon, but pointed out that formal peace negotiations were over.
LRA delegation leader, Dr. David Matsanga explained that the delay to sign the FPA was caused by security concerns over the International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrants issued against the LRA leadership and other concerns pertaining to Disarmament, Demobilization and Re-integration (DDR) programmes per the agreement.
It was not clear from his statement whether or not those concerns were already resolved to the satisfaction of the LRA leadership or be part of Machar’s upcoming discussions with Kony.
Matsanga, however assured his Movement’s “determination to sign the FPA this time round.”
He admitted that the LRA forces were responsible for the deadly attack on Nabanga Payam in Western Equatoria state last month which left dozens of SPLA soldiers and civilians dead.
In statement he distributed to the press, Dr. Matsanga said the LRA forces were “provoked” by an agreement between Uganda, Southern Sudan and DR Congo to carry out military operations against the rebels.
He also accused the Uganda People’s Defense Forces (UPDF) of masquerading as LRA and committing atrocities in Southern Sudan and alleged that there is a special military brigade of UPDF which is tasked to masquerade as LRA and kill civilians in the region.
In related news, the Speaker of the Southern Sudan Legislative Assembly (SSLA), Honorable James Wani Igga, in an exclusive interview with the Juba-based UN Miraya FM radio, on Saturday, confirmed the decision of the Government of Southern Sudan to expel the Uganda army from Southern Sudan territory, saying the Government is now self-reliant.
The Uganda peace process witnessed a setback when the LRA leader failed to show up and sign the Final Peace Agreement scheduled for April 10, 2008 at Sudan-DR Congo border, citing ICC arrest warrants as an obstacle to peace.
The ICC accuses the LRA leadership of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity during its rebellion.
President Yoweri Museveni of the Republic of Uganda was also scheduled to sign the FPA on April 14 in Juba – three days after – if Kony signed his part as scheduled.
The 22-year brutal conflict in Northern Uganda is blamed for the displacement of nearly 2 million people and the death of tens of thousands more in the region.
The LRA peace negotiators say they are fighting against marginalization in the North and North-eastern part of the country.
The Juba peace process is seen as the best chance to end the LRA war that has crossed international borders and proven to pose a security threat regionally.
(ST)