Juba talks: A cat and Mouse game

From my old blog-Friday, August 18, 2006

The peace talks currently underway between the Government of Uganda (GoU) and Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) are the best opportunity in over a decade to end the twenty-year war in northern Uganda.

The involvement of South Sudan government as a mediator in this process, gives this process serious potential to succeed in both ending active violence and providing a framework to address deeper social and political grievances

However, what we are seeing now is an apparent end to the evident openness of the LRA and GoU to end the conflict that was exhibit at the beginning of talks.

It is over a month since the talks started and no serious issues have been arrived at and it is to that end that we undertake this analysis, to ask the government of Uganda and the LRA to refocus priority.

In the current GoU-LRA peace talks in Juba, we do not even know the issues of contention. For example, we do not know the government position on economic empowering of the north and its rehabilitation plans.

All we hear of is a “soft landing for LRA.” And the rebels prioritising post-conflict security and livelihood guarantees. The two parties seem not ready to address the multifaceted root causes underpinning the conflict in East and Northern Uganda.

The LRA support networks, scattered in small groups in the Diaspora, should not use the growing media attention, to expose what they believe are the injustices of the present government and gain reparations for past ills.

Coupled with this has been little public attempt to date to interrogate the interests and stakes of those involved in these peace talks. Such analysis is crucial to unpack the potentiality of this peace process and to clarify the short and long term needs for lasting peace in northern Uganda.

It is high time the government must consider several possible outcomes. First, the government must reflect on the needs of people in the north for peace.

President Museveni made it clear both in his campaign manifesto that restoration of peace in the north would be his priority and we think this is a chance for him to do just that.

Government should also consider whether it is willing to facilitate national dialogue and truth-telling mechanisms.

Lasting peace in northern Uganda will require not only disbanding LRA structure, but also addressing northern grievances of social, political and economic marginalisation.