afrol News, 14 March - The rebel administration of Uganda's brutal Lord Resistance Army (LRA) has agreed to resume peace talks with the government aimed at burying the 20-year-old war provided certain conditions are met.

The key condition has to do with the involvement of many African countries in the mediation team. These countries include South Africa, Mozambique, Tanzania, Kenya and the Congo Kinshasa (DRC).

The LRA was invited Khartoum to join the negotiations provided they will not be evicted from South Sudan. The rebel group accused the South Sudan negotiators of being biased towards the Ugandan government.

Uganda's northern rebels also demanded for the withdrawal of Ugandan government forces from South Sudan to allow LRA to cross River Nile and strengthen their forces on the west bank. They further called for the deployment of a 1,000 strong protection force to guarantee the security of the LRA in the South Sudan capital of Juba as well as increase allowance for the negotiation team.

Prior to the rebel demands, there was a meeting between a UN peace envoy and LRA leader Joseph Kony in Ri-Kwangba, South Sudan. The meeting included the former Mozambican President, Joaquim Chissano who has been appointed the UN envoy for Uganda and Uganda's Internal Affairs Minister, Ruhakana Rugunda.

The six months fragile truce signed between the Ugandan government and LRA expired on 1 March, with fears of renewed war between the two rivals escalating, especially in the face of threats from the LRA.

LRA officials walked out of the peace talks last December. The rebel administration had insisted that there would be no renewal for truce in the absence of peace talks. They asked Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni to talk to them - otherwise they may open war with his government.

LRA deputy Commander Vincent Otti threatened that his men were ready to engage the Ugandan government into a prolonged war if they refuse to accept their demands.

But President Museveni said government armed forces would not fight with the LRA if they did not attempt to re-enter Uganda. Most LRA rebels are now based in demobilisation camps in South Sudan.

Engulfed with fears of renewed hostilities, Acholi leaders of northern Ugandan have been relentless in their efforts to broker peace between the government and LRA in southern Sudan.

Ugandans were filled with joy when their government and the LRA last year finally agreed to stop fighting. This led to an agreement of the two sides to talk in South Sudanese city of Juba. But the two sides deadlocked on power sharing and reforms in the Ugandan army and decided to halt negotiations.

The indictments of the LRA leadership by International Criminal Court (ICC) for their gross human rights violations and war crimes also added salt to injury.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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