,A New Peace Strategy for Northern Uganda and the LRA

A New Peace Strategy for Northern Uganda and the LRA


 

Publication Date: May 2008

Publisher: Center for American Progress

Author(s): Julia Spiegel; John Prendergast

Research Area: International relations

Type: Report

Abstract:

Lord’s Resistance Army leader Joseph Kony’s failure to sign a peace deal in April drove a nail into the coffin of the Juba peace process—a process that is grinding to an unsuccessful end. The talks have certainly contributed to northern Uganda’s current state of relative peace and created a mechanism to address tensions between the people in the North and the southern-dominated government in Kampala. But without real leverage and without a direct channel of negotiations to Kony himself, the LRA leader has exploited this last year of negotiations to stave off international pressure, collect food and money from the mediators and donors, and buy time to abduct, train, and equip new combatants. Another meeting with the LRA high command and the mediators set for May 10 looks like it will just be more of the same.