Weekly Roundup for Apr. 26-May 2: Patience wearing thin as peace efforts continue

The Good: The mediator and local leaders have continued efforts to encourage LRA chief Joseph Kony to sign the final peace deal, with their sights now set on a May 10th meeting with the rebel leader in Ri-Kwangba.

The Bad: Patience is wearning thin though, and both the Ugandan government and international community have expressed concern that renewed abductions demonstrate the LRA's indifference to peace.

The Ugly: Meanwhile, a new report shows that humanitarian funding to both northern Uganda and the north-eastern Karamoja region has become "critically low," widening the gap between crisis and recovery.

The Peace Process:

• Local leaders and the chief mediator have remained in contact with Kony, and continue their efforts to encourage rebel leaders to sign the Final Peace Agreement (FPA).

• Chief mediator Riek Machar was scheduled to meet Kony in person yesterday, but there are no reports yet to confirm the meeting took place or its results.

• Kony has reportedly invited northern Ugandan religious, cultural and political leaders to meet with him on May 10th in Ri-Kwangba, to discuss traditional justice mechanisms.

• Meanwhile though, the Ugandan government and international community have expressed concern about renewed abductions by the LRA; the former warned that military action would be taken if the rebels do not sign the FPA.

• The LRA delegation reportedly rejected the warning as "extreme provocation," though the rebels must know they are running out of time to demonstrate their commitment to the peace process in the eyes of both Ugandans and the international community.

• In a resolution this week extending the mandate of the UN peacekeeping mission in Sudan (UNMIS), the UN Security Council expressed support for the Juba peace process and urged UNMIS to help implement the FPA if signed.

• In his April report on Sudan, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon also urged all parties to sign the FPA, while expressing concern about insecurity caused by the rebels in Sudan.

• However, a new report by UNICEF shows that humanitarian funding to northern Uganda and Karamoja has become "critically low" and unevenly spread, hindering return and recovery.

• Finally, despite growing media cynicism, former Oxfam officer Io Schmid writes in an Op-Ed this week: "The Juba peace process may be fragile, but it remains the best bet for peace and justice." There is still hope that, with sustained political will, an end to this 22-year war is around the corner.