Weekly Roundup for July 5-11: Kony calls UN envoy, "no longer wants war"

July 11th, 2008 by paul in: Main Site, Update from HQ
The Good: Joseph Kony called UN special envoy Joaquim Chissano to express his desire to end the conflict, while controversial LRA negotiator David Matsanga said the rebel chief may be willing to sign a peace deal as early as next week.

The Bad: A UN report reveals that international donors are failing to adequately fund early recovery projects designed to assist displaced northern Ugandans to return home and rebuild their communities.

The Ugly: Despite receiving a series of updates on the situation in northern Uganda and the Juba peace process, the UN Security Council remains paralyzed by divisions on the issue and has yet to respond to the rapidly changing situation in LRA-affected areas.

The Peace Process:

  • LRA leader Joseph Kony contacted UN special envoy Joaquim Chissano to request a meeting with chief mediator Reik Machar and express his desire to end the conflict. Machar told the press that he hopes to convince Kony to sign the Final Peace Agreement (FPA) negotiated this spring in Juba.
  • David Matsanga, the controversial head of the LRA negotiating team, suggested that Joseph Kony may be ready to sign a final peace deal in the South Sudanese town of Ri-Kwangba as early as next week.
  • A team of Ugandan government officials is reportedly traveling to Ri-Kwangba this weekend to explain elements of the FPA concerning justice and accountability to LRA leaders. They also hope to convince Joseph Kony to sign the agreement.
  • A letter allegedly written by LRA negotiator David Matsanga to President Museveni calling for Kony to be killed was leaked to the press. The letter, whose authenticity has yet to be verified, was allegedly written in May while Matsanga was temporarily off the negotiating team.

Situation on the Ground:

  • A UN study highlighted the need for a smooth transition from emergency relief aid in displaced persons camps in northern Uganda to early recovery projects in areas where people are returning home. However, to date international donors have funded only 31% of this year's early recovery projects, causing some projects to be cancelled.
  • The Ugandan government revealed that at least $1.5 million has been embezzled or mismanaged from the Northern Uganda Social Action Fund (NUSAF). The World Bank-funded program has been haunted by corruption since its inception in 2003, raising questions about the Government's ability to ensure funds earmarked for the recently launched Peace, Recovery and Development Plan for Northern Uganda (PRDP) actually reach war-affected communities.

International Response:

  • Chief mediator Reik Machar's June report on jumpstarting the peace process reached the UN Security Council this week, less than a month after the body was briefed by UN envoy Joaquim Chissano. However, divisions within the Council have prevented it from issuing any formal response to the rapidly developing situation in LRA-affected areas.