Uganda: UN Justice Causes Peace Talks To Collapse

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May 29,2008: The army denied charges that its peacekeeping troops in Somalia have sold weapons to Islamist rebels. The Ugandan statement described the charges as "ridiculous." Uganda has approximately 1600 soldiers serving with African Union peacekeepers in Somalia,

May 26, 2008: There are Ugandans who have said this was always the case, that is, that LRA commander Joseph Kony would never reach a peace agreement with the Museveni government. Now there are reports that Kony has clearly and unmistakably said he will never sign a peace deal with the Ugandan government. Apparently, Kony has decided to end the Juba peace process, which has gone on for some 22 months. Kony has apparently heard rumors that various commando groups are looking for him (one story specified US commandos). He also fears that he will be arrested and remanded to the International Criminal Court (ICC) for trial. That fear of Kony's is based in reality. Uganda sought the indictments, got them, then the indictments have proved to be an obstacle to reaching a peace deal. The ICC warrants are still in force. Kony could be arrested and tried on murder charges.

May 21, 2008: The US believes the peace process is over. Rumors are that LRA leader Joseph Kony has backed away from reaching a permanent peace agreement.

May 19, 2008: The army reported that they captured 14 men, in the last three weeks, who attempted to enter Uganda from the Congo. Interestingly enough, two of the men belonged to the pro-Rwandan Hutu Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR). The other 12 had quit the militia run by pro-Tutsi commander Laurent Nkunda. Uganda has been worried about infilitration from the LRA and Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) rebel organizations. The latest wave, however, appears to be tribal militiamen who have had it with the various Congolese wars.