AFRICA/UGANDA - Second protocol signed by Ugandan government and LRA rebels

Kampala (Agenzia Fides)- Another important step towards peace in northern Uganda was made on 2 May when a second agreement on political and economic solutions necessary to put an end to the conflict, was signed in Juba capital of the government of Southern Sudan.
Negotiations between the Ugandan government and the Lord's Resistance Army rebels LRA commenced last year. In early January this year however the LRA walked out of the talks demanding for negotiations to be moved to Kenya (see Fides 16 January 7 February 15 March 2007) for fear of a statement by Sudanese president Omar Bashir who promised to “eradicate the LRA from Sudan”.
Thanks to efforts on the part of the international community the two delegations resumed talks on 26 April with mediation of Southern Sudan vice president Riek Machar and facilitation on the part of the United Nations and the Rome based S. Egidio Community. Also present for this second round of talks, observers from Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania and Kenya.
In a statement sent to Fides S. Egidio writes “This second protocol concerns the sharing of political institutions and government, to guarantee equal opportunities for all the ethnic groups in the country, equal presence in state offices, judicial order and security, to address the problems of refugees, rebuilding in Northern Uganda, compensation for confiscated land and animals in war affected areas, an agreement on conditions for the integration of LRA militia in the national army. A cease fire agreement was confirmed at the beginning of April and the LRA request for its troops to meet all in one place, west of the Nile was granted.
The terrible war in Northern Uganda has lasted for more than 20 years causing hundreds of thousands of dead; an estimated 25,000 children, boys and girls, were abducted by the LRA many to serve as child soldiers. The talks will also treat the question of reconciliation. “Almost 2 million internally displaced persons live in camps mainly in the districts of Gulu and Pader, is disastrous humanitarian conditions. Peace would allow them to return to their villages, as others returned to other districts after the first protocol was signed at the end of August 2006” the S. Egidio statement concludes. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 4/5/2007 righe 39 parole 468)