Juba Peace Talks in Jeopardy
Lord's Resistance Army threatens to quit peace process
Tension in Sudan has led to a recent breakdown in the Juba peace process and raised fears of renewed conflict in northern Uganda.
Since July 2006, the town of Juba in southern Sudan has hosted landmark talks between the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) rebels and the Ugandan government, aimed at ending their 20-year conflict. Months of dragging negotiations have failed to generate the accord that many were optimistic would be produced. Hopes of peace have now been jeopardized further as Sudan's president vowed to 'get rid of the LRA' and the rebels, fearing their safety, rejected the current mediator.
The LRA have demanded that talks be relocated to a neutral venue in either Kenya or South Africa. BBC says that Riek Machar, the Juba mediator and South Sudan's vice president, remained confident that a solution could be agreed upon in Juba despite his president's comments and the LRA's disgruntlement. However, Vincent Otti, the LRA's deputy leader, was adamant about leaving Sudan.
In August, Juba discussions produced a truce which has been largely observed by both sides. Under the terms of the armistice, LRA fighters were supposed to assemble and disarm at two Sudanese camps but they have repeatedly failed to meet deadlines, citing threats from the Ugandan army as their excuse. Both sides have been accused of breaching the terms of the truce.
Uncertain Future
According to the BBC, the rebels have until the end of February to assemble but Reuters reports that they have only been given until the end of January to gather their forces in the Sudanese camps. Reuters also reports that Vincent Otti announced the LRA would never assemble. These recent developments have not only cast doubts on any lasting peace but have also revived the potential for war in Uganda.
The Juba peace talks have offered some respite from years of conflict but the outstanding arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court for five LRA members has hampered progress. More than one million people still remain in Internally Displaced Persons camps due to the LRA's reign of terror and it appears that many of them will not be going anywhere soon.
