Henry Mukasa
3 November 2008
Kampala — THE United Nations special envoy to Lord's Resistance Army-affected areas, Joachim Chissano, has convened a meeting in Kampala to restart the stalled Juba peace-talks.
The meeting, to be attended by representatives of the Government, rebels, mediators, parliamentarians, civil society organisations and donors, is tentatively scheduled for tomorrow.
Southern Sudan's Vice-President Riek Machar, who is the chief mediator, announced the meeting in Juba over the weekend. This was after he met a delegation from the US, led by the Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Dr. Jendayi Frazer.
From Juba, Frazer held a meeting with President Yoweri Museveni at State House, Entebbe. However, a statement issued after the meeting did not mention the planned meeting.
"President Yoweri Museveni has today met the US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Dr. Jendayi Frazer, who is currently on a tour of the Great Lakes Region. The President and his guest discussed issues of mutual interest," a statement issued on Sunday said.
Frazer, who was accompanied by Bobby Pittman, the Special Assistant to the President for African Affairs, will also meet with Southern Sudan President Salva Kiir.
Ministry of Internal Affairs permanent secretary Dr. Stephen Kagoda, who is a member of the Government peace delegation, said: "The information we have is from a letter written by Dr. Riek (Machar). It says he will update the meeting on the status of the talks.
The UN envoy will also speak and we will discuss the status of the signing of the Final Peace Agreement, its implementation and modalities for oversight."
Machar said they want to reach a decision and find a way forward for the talks.
In April, LRA leader Joseph Kony refused to sign the peace agreement that was negotiated in Juba from July 2006. The Government of Southern Sudan (GoSS) brokered the talks.
The rebels have fought a ruthless war in the north for more than 20 years. LRA commanders are wanted by the International Criminal Court for war crimes and crimes against humanity. The LRA claims the warrants of arrest hovering over their leaders' heads are obstacles to peace.
The proposed resuscitation of the peace talks comes when the rebels are carrying out attacks in the Democratic Republic of Congo where they are holed up and making deadly incursions in South Sudan.
The residents of Sudan's Western Equatoria province are worried that the rebels would impede the electoral process in the area.
The meeting also explains why Machar met Frazer with GoSS officials.
On Sunday, the UN said Congolese soldiers killed nine LRA fighters after the rebels attacked Dungu, a village in the northeast of the DR Congo. The attack was reportedly made by between 30 to 50 LRA fighters.
"The bodies of the nine LRA members were found in the streets," MONUC spokesman Matlodje Munubai said.
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