Weekly Roundup for May 3-9: NGOs unite in support of local efforts to salvage peace process

May 9th, 2008 by peter in: Main Site, Update from HQ

The Good: As the chief mediator and local leaders trek back into the jungle to meet LRA leader Joseph Kony tomorrow, perhaps for the last time, NGOs and civil society from around the world have united in a message of support for these efforts to salvage the peace process.

The Bad: Continued reports of abductions in Central African Republic are alarming in themselves, but investigations suggest that there may be splinter LRA groups operating outside Kony's direct authority.

The Ugly: Allegations have surfaced that a few "spoilers" in the Ugandan Diaspora advised Kony against signing the Final Peace Agreement last month and promised him resources to keep fighting.

The Peace Process:

  • The chief mediator Riek Machar as well as religious, cultural and political leaders from northern Uganda are scheduled to meet with rebel leader Joseph Kony tomorrow in Ri-Kwangba on the Sudan-Congo border. They will try to assuage his confusion about accountability mechanisms and persuade him to sign the Final Peace Agreement (FPA).
  • In preparation for that meeting, local leaders have led workshops this week in Kampala with an LRA delegation and Uganda judges to outline implementation of the agreement on accountability and reconciliation.
  • The Ugandan government has said it supports these efforts, but will not return to Ri-Kwangba until after mediators meet with Kony and he is ready to sign the FPA. The government's lead negotiator Ruhakana Rugunda called on Kony to "take advantage of the remaining window of opportunity" and sign the agreement.

Situation on the Ground:

  • A new report by AVSI provides personal stories of the complexity facing internally-displaced people in northern Uganda as they move from camps to transition sites to their original homes. Over one million people still remain either in camps or transition sites.
  • A new report by the Survey of War-Affected Youth highlights the unique challenges facing female youth in northern Uganda, including low income and employment levels, high rates of sexual violence and lack of educational opportunities.
  • The Ugandan government's forced disarmament campaign in the north-eastern Karamoja region continues to face criticism as the security situation there deteriorates.

International Responses:

  • The chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court has called for Kony's arrest and disparaged the ongoing peace process. Some have criticized these comments though as irresponsible given the lack of clear mechanism to apprehend Kony, and an insult to the local leaders who continue working tirelessly for an end to this 22-year war.
  • We're now asking you to join that impressive list and use your voice, your name for peace. We've set an ambitious goal: 10,000 signatures by tomorrow when the meeting with Kony is scheduled to take place. We've already passed 6,000. Can you help us reach our target?