Uganda extends deadline for rebel peace negotiations

KAMPALA – Uganda added six weeks to a deadline for thrashing out a peace deal with the rebel Lord’s Resistance Army yesterday, in a boost for talks this week that will aim to end one of Africa’s most neglected wars.

Tentative discussions between Ugandan officials and representatives of the northern insurgents are to begin tomorrow in neighbouring southern Sudan’s town of Juba. If they go well, Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni has offered to protect LRA leader Joseph Kony, who is wanted for war crimes by the International Criminal Court in The Hague.In a surprise move, Museveni also extended his deadline for an agreement to be reached from July 31 to September 12.”These extra weeks are to give the LRA time to consult,” said Captain Paddy Ankunda, Uganda’s spokesman on the talks.There have been at least a dozen previous attempts to end the 20-year conflict, which has killed tens of thousands, uprooted nearly 2 million people in northern Uganda and destabilised southern Sudan.The most recent bid, in late 2004, collapsed with both sides blaming the other and the LRA negotiator surrendering.Late last year, the ICC unsealed indictments for Kony and four deputies, seemingly ending prospects for more talks.Despite the warrant for Kony on charges of massacring civilians and kidnapping thousands of children, the self-proclaimed mystic met southern Sudanese officials in May and June – his first known meeting with mediators in years.He denied committing atrocities and called for peace talks with Museveni, brokered by the south’s regional government.A Ugandan team led by Internal Affairs Minister Ruhakana Rugunda visits Juba this week.South Sudan’s government wants Kony’s deputy Vincent Otti to attend the talks in person.Highlighting the difficulties of not negotiating directly, an LRA spokesman in Juba rejected Museveni’s amnesty offer for Kony last week, only to be reprimanded later by Otti.But the LRA leaders would have to overcome their fear of arrest to leave hideouts in the jungles of Democratic Republic of Congo, where they crossed from Sudan late last year.Despite the amnesty offer, the ICC has reminded Uganda, Congo and Sudan they are all legally obliged to hand them over.Western diplomats involved in earlier peace initiatives say they are caught between hoping for a deal – which might involve amnesty – and officially supporting the ICC.- Nampa-ReutersIf they go well, Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni has offered to protect LRA leader Joseph Kony, who is wanted for war crimes by the International Criminal Court in The Hague.In a surprise move, Museveni also extended his deadline for an agreement to be reached from July 31 to September 12.”These extra weeks are to give the LRA time to consult,” said Captain Paddy Ankunda, Uganda’s spokesman on the talks.There have been at least a dozen previous attempts to end the 20-year conflict, which has killed tens of thousands, uprooted nearly 2 million people in northern Uganda and destabilised southern Sudan.The most recent bid, in late 2004, collapsed with both sides blaming the other and the LRA negotiator surrendering.Late last year, the ICC unsealed indictments for Kony and four deputies, seemingly ending prospects for more talks.Despite the warrant for Kony on charges of massacring civilians and kidnapping thousands of children, the self-proclaimed mystic met southern Sudanese officials in May and June – his first known meeting with mediators in years.He denied committing atrocities and called for peace talks with Museveni, brokered by the south’s regional government.A Ugandan team led by Internal Affairs Minister Ruhakana Rugunda visits Juba this week.South Sudan’s government wants Kony’s deputy Vincent Otti to attend the talks in person.Highlighting the difficulties of not negotiating directly, an LRA spokesman in Juba rejected Museveni’s amnesty offer for Kony last week, only to be reprimanded later by Otti.But the LRA leaders would have to overcome their fear of arrest to leave hideouts in the jungles of Democratic Republic of Congo, where they crossed from Sudan late last year.Despite the amnesty offer, the ICC has reminded Uganda, Congo and Sudan they are all legally obliged to hand them over.Western diplomats involved in earlier peace initiatives say they are caught between hoping for a deal – which might involve amnesty – and officially supporting the ICC.- Nampa-Reuters