Uganda's peace falters for want of a mediator

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The most-promising peace talks yet, to end more than two decades of brutal civil war in northern Uganda, are near total collapse for lack of a mediator. For the past six months, Sudan has hosted negotiations between the rebel Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) and the Ugandan government in the southern Sudan city of Juba to bring Africa's longest-running war to a close. The conflict has claimed tens of thousands of lives since 1987 and displaced 1.7 million Ugandans.

But rebel leaders recently withdrew from the talks, citing security concerns after Sudanese President Omar Bashir vowed to "rid Sudan of the LRA." The rebels now insist on a new host country and mediator.

Kenya and South Africa have been designated by LRA officials as acceptable third parties to mediate talks, but neither has shown any intention to get involved.

As chief mediator, Vice President Riek Machar of southern Sudan was largely responsible for getting both sides to sign an Aug. 26 cease-fire. He has reached out to rebel chief Joseph Kony, currently hiding in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and other parties to return to the negotiating table in Sudan, but the LRA leaders refuse.

"We will never go back to Juba, no matter how long they give us. Even if they apologize, nothing they can do can make us go back there," chief LRA negotiator Martin Ojul said in January. "We are still committed to peace talks, and we're going to find another venue."

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni insists Juba will remain the venue for peace talks, regardless of rebel demands. His northern regional army spokesman told the Daily Monitor newspaper that if LRA rebels return to Uganda as second-in-command Vincent Otti has suggested, "we will welcome them with a baptism of fire."

Mr. Otti told the Reuters news agency on Feb. 6 by telephone from his hide-out on the Sudan-Congo border: "If they cannot find another venue, then I will go back to my country and start war." Some observers say this may be calculated brinkmanship.

Deadline missed

Under the August cease-fire the LRA signed with Gen. Museveni's government, rebel fighters had until the end of last month to assemble at two camps in southern Sudan. Uganda says the rebels are not cooperating, while the rebels say they fear for their safety and do not want to go to the camps.

Complicating matters are outstanding indictments on war-crimes charges by the International Criminal Court (ICC) at The Hague against LRA leaders, including Kony and Mr. Otti.