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Africa Subsaharan
Uganda, rebels agree to stop fighting
2006-08-27
Uganda and the Lords Resistance Army (LRA) rebels have signed a deal to halt hostilities in a breakthrough in efforts to end one of Africa's longest wars. The chief mediator at the talks, Sudan's vice-president, Riek Machar, said on Saturday: "We hope that now the two principals will take action so that the guns can go silent," referring to the Ugandan president Yoweri Museveni and commander of the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA), Joseph Kony.

“... the LRA's leaders, including Kony, have not joined the talks and remained at bases in the Democratic Republic of Congo as they are wanted by the International Criminal Court.”
The deal means both sides will cease attacks and hostile propaganda while negotiations continue and is due to take effect at 0600 GMT on Tuesday. Talks between the two sides began on July 14 in Juba, the capital of south Sudan. Until Friday, Uganda's government had said it would only sign a ceasefire as part of a comprehensive peace agreement, accusing the LRA of using earlier truces to regroup and re-arm. The rebels declared a cessation of hostilities on August 4.

Kampala has offered amnesty to the LRA's leaders, including Kony, who have not joined the talks and remained at bases in the Democratic Republic of Congo as they are wanted by the International Criminal Court. Thousands of civilians have died in the conflict and 1.7million have fled their homes according to relief organisations.
Posted by:Fred

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