Ugandan peace must not be abandoned

By Isaiah Abraham

December 3, 2008 — The rebels of the Lord Resistance Army (LRA) and the Government of the Uganda have been engaged in peace talks for the past two years in the capital of Southern Sudan, Juba. Like any other peace talks and initiatives, the Uganda peace talks or negotiations had its ups and downs, especially the responsibility toll on the peace mediators, the UN Secretary General Special Envoy President Joaquim Alberto Chissano and the Chief Mediator for the host Government H. E. Dr. Riek Machar Teny Dhurgon, the Vice President of the Government of Southern Sudan. At the beginning of the talks, there was no much interest until after the level of violence by the LRA slowed down and the people in Northern Uganda and Southern Sudan started to break from fear for the first time after nearly 15 years. Thousands of internally displaced persons from Uganda and Southern Sudan began to return home. This has reduced burden to the two governments (The government of Uganda and Southern Sudan) in many ways.

Despite attacks in Western Equatoria Region/State, the insecurity caused by the LRA has significantly gone down. Peace then has been embraced and everyone wants the leader of the LRA to finally append his signature on the Final Peace Agreement (FPA) for Uganda. I also believe that the world especially the UN has demonstrated its commitment to ensure that peace return to Uganda and Southern Sudan. They have tried their best and are given a solute. The man to be credited for that difficult job is non other than the Chief Mediator H.E. the Vice President of the South Sudan (Dr. Riek Machar).

With all the odds he has navigated since this peace was initiated by the Government of Southern Sudan (GOSS) earlier 2006, His Excellency the Vice President is a concentrator and has a fixed mind on important things; some of his colleagues if not his boss were in the middle weary, frustrated and tired of going further when Joseph Kony was showing inconsistency in the peace talks. The Vice President must therefore not give up pursuing this noble cause. The Ugandan Peace Talks must not be abandoned and the reasons are: one, the cost of fighting the LRA would be too high than the cost of making peace. This is self explanatory, isn’t? Second, the South is going for two key important exercises next year and the year after. Our people need to have a long ‘rest’ from 50 years of fighting the North. There is a need to have a peaceful environment for our people to go campaigning in the elections and the referendum.

Third, the SPLA reorganization and focus must not be stretched at this time; there are major issues the SPLA must be on stand by to address. Currently, the Messiriya and Baggara Arabs aren’t listening and with border disputes are becoming realities, the SPLA gallant force ought to be reserved to face the uncertain future at that border. You never know moreover what Darfur case has brought to the country; anything can happen and our men must be ready in case the North engineered ugly eventuality that might force out us to vote with our blood to the Eastern African block. The North is preparing but Oyai/Gat Mai are ahead and we want them even to be far ahead! Southerners sleep soundly, you have a future! SPLA Oyee!

Forth, the Great Lakes Region is volatile and unstable and therefore easy for other terrorist groups and enemies of Southern Sudan to exploit anarchy at the borders to advance enemy or their personal agendas. So long Arabs have money, don’t estimate the power of ‘gurush’, they can manipulate any group to cause our people more pain even that of assassination of another leader. Our own sons could do just that, not even an alien.

Fifth, the return and resettlement activities would be hampered and development projects stall. We have suffering people on the outskirts of Khartoum and other rich Sudan Arabs cities, who want to come home and if there no peace and progress as to services they will opt to remain there and get Islamized and Arabised. Sixth, South Sudan economic and education life line is Uganda; anything disrupting this lifeline would have economic and future repercussion to the people of Southern Sudan. Though there are unanswered questions and a clear scandal regarding the so called funding to students in colleges in Uganda by Hon. Martin Majut (South Sudan President Office Chief), we can still believe that they are children of Southern Sudan. Southern Sudan is too much and big for any small groups to lord it over if what we are hearing is true. It has an end. Seventh, strategically and politically; unrest in Uganda affects Southern Sudan directly or indirectly. We will feel the pinch once the government in Uganda is troubled by unrest.

Eight, our reputation as people of Southern Sudan through our leaders would be tainted, as this is the first time ever for an international activity Southern Sudan had committed itself in to it. If we can manage this responsibility, we are likely going to manage big things in the future. Am a very proud man as Southern Sudanese to have Dr. Machar manages this huge responsibility with maturity, calmness and forthright posture; he has shown the world that he’s more than just a Southern leader but an international one. If the agreement failed (which I think it must be allowed to), this image would be put to question.

There are however challenges as to the above mentioned considerations- the need to keep the door opens for peaceful resolution for Ugandans conflict. One is cash. The sponsors of this peace talk might decide to dig no further into their pockets; where will the small government of Southern Sudan going to get money to buy food to the rebels, communication, transport, housing/accommodation, press/publication, conferences costs as well as food/entertainment services?

Second, how easy would it be to convince the International Criminal Court (ICC) to drop charges against Mr. Joseph Kony so to sign the FPA? The ICC is a huge obstacle and others don’t want to see this now, damn! Third, for how long will Southern Sudan allows its Vice President to be on Uganda Peace talks doing side show/extra jobs besides myriads issues under his care as second most powerful man on our land? President Kiir can’t be relied to do everything on his own; he looks slow and a feet dragger or being hand ‘drag’ by others. Forth, what if the UN pulls out completely to be part of the monitoring units supervising the cessation of hostility between the Ugandan People Defence Force (UPDF) and the LRA? Again what if the LRA start misbehaving like before, disregarding the FPA Cessation of Hostility Protocol?

In summary, everything is tricky yes but the best intermediary option is to keep alive that peace talk by: maintaining the process no matter the going (cost) and also start to implement reconciliation package leaving the security behind until the ICC drops its threats to arrest the LRA leader. Israel is right: a court without any appeal is isn’t a court. So, what is it? Hmmm! The Government of Uganda in this case must swallow its pride and face the ICC case head on. Defer the ICC warrant of arrest is a necessity. Dr. Machar must not be swayed by pressure internally and externally, after all peace is tried and is tested sweet. Talk! Talk! Dr. Machar and God will reward you; you have saved lives in Uganda and Southern Sudan.

Isaiah Abraham lives in Juba; he is on [email protected]