Govt. official assures that LRA negotiating team has backing of Joseph Kony

The leader of the LRA delegation, Martin Ojul, has the full backing of rebel leader Joseph Kony, the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Dr. Stephen Kagoda, assured the public yesterday. Kagoda was reacting to fears that the LRA peace team, which is holding consultations on accountability and reconciliation in the north, did not have the blessings of Kony. "Before the talks started, there was background work to establish that we were not dealing with impostors or people without the mandate," Kagoda responded to a question. "The LRA has remained in close contact with us over this matter and we believe that the people negotiating with the Government have the mandate." However, he added that the rift between Kony and his commanders posed a challenge in the peace talks. Read more at The New Vision.