Opiyo Oloya, respected member of the Acholi Diaspora in North America, writes in today's New Vision about a proposal by some Diaspora members to engage the informal dialogues initiated by Dr. Riek Machar, Vice-President of Southern Sudan. The group writes, "The momentum is now to strike a deal between the conflicting parties for the return of peace to both northern Uganda and Southern Sudan." Read the whole proposal at The New Vision.

Amnesty International has weighed in on the debate sparked by Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni's offer of amnesty from International Criminal Court prosecution to LRA leaders if they end their rebellion by August 1st, saying that they would oppose such a move. The human rights watchdog said that Joseph Kony and the four other LRA leaders indicted by the ICC must face trial for their role in the crimes against humanity perpetrated against northern Ugandan civilians over the past 20 years. Read more at The New Vision.

A spokesman from the Ugandan military said yesterday that Uganda will continue to conduct military operations against the LRA, despite the peace deal offered to them last week by Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni. Several weeks ago Kony met with officials from southern Sudan and indicated a willingness to talk peace, and last week Pres. Museveni said that if the LRA ended their rebellion by August 1 they would be granted protection prosecution by the International Criminal Court.

However, Thursday’s statements by military spokesman Major Felix Kulayigye seem to contradict the spirit of Museveni’s offer – and continue a long history of such mixed signals sent by the Ugandan government to the LRA concerning possible peace deals. Kulayigye said, “You can't trust Kony. He always makes these moves when he is desperate. We hope this time he means it, but there is no ceasefire and we will continue to hunt him while we wait to see if he does what the president has asked of him. ... He knows that if he stops fighting he will be spared." Read more at Reuters.

LRA leader Joseph Kony has asked the International Criminal Court (ICC) to drop the indictments it issued last year against him and four other LRA leaders, saying that they are not terrorists but “freedom fighters”. The ICC issued the indictments last October, accusing the five of crimes against humanity, including murder, abduction, rape, and looting. Kony issued his request several weeks ago during a meeting with Riek Machar, Vice President of Southern Sudan and member of the SPLM. Machar reportedly also gave Kony $20,000 for food at the meeting.

Kony also expressed skepticism about Ugandan President Museveni’s recent proclamation that he will shield the LRA leadership from ICC prosecution if they ended their rebellion by August 1st of this year. Read more at The Monitor, including a full transcription of the meeting between Kony and Machar.

According to the Sudan Tribune, Uganda’s surprise offer to protect one of the world’s most wanted rebel leaders if he joins peace talks is seen as unlikely to bear fruit and could lead to a showdown with international prosecutors. Ugandan President Museveni this week issued an August 1 deadline for Joseph Kony to end his 20-year insurgency after the chief of the LRA told officials in southern Sudan he was ready for talks. Museveni, who had previously written off holding any further negotiations with his long-time foe, said he would guarantee Kony’s safety if he was serious this time. Such a move, though, will put Museveni at odds with the new International Criminal Court (ICC). Many, however, doubt Museveni’s real commitment to this negotiated settlement. Read more about this unfolding situation at the Sudan Tribune.

Officials from the International Criminal Court (ICC) have stated that Uganda has an obligation under international law to arrest Joseph Kony and the four other LRA leaders that were indicted by the court last October. They were responding to Ugandan President Museveni’s statement on Wednesday in which he offered to grant the indicted LRA leaders amnesty from ICC prosecution if they ended their rebellion by the end of July. Museveni’s statement followed a meeting with leaders from southern Sudan who met with Kony last week to discuss a possible peace deal. Read more at the BBC.

President Yoweri Museveni announced yesterday that Uganda and Southern Sudan have given LRA rebel leader Joseph Kony until July to end hostilities. The Vice President of Southern Sudan Riek Machar, who recently met with the LRA leader, will hand over a peace offer to Kony soon. Museveni said that if Kony does not take up the latest peace offer, Kiir and him agreed that the Sudanese Peoples Liberation Army (SPLA) and the Uganda Peoples' Defense Forces (UPDF) would jointly handle him militarily. "The President said much as Kony and four of his cahoots had been indicted by the International Criminal Court, if he got serious about a peaceful settlement, the Uganda government would guarantee him safety," the Press Secretary said.

The president further repeated his call to the UN Mission in Congo (MONUC) to preoccupy itself with preparations for elections in that country - but also to check threats to neighbours' security from its territory, as was provided for in the Lusaka Agreement of 2000. "We talk, talk, talk but there is no seriousness," the President said. Read more at The Monitor.

LRA leader Joseph Kony has sent a request through President of Southern Sudan Salva Kiir that he wants direct peace talks with Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni. Kony last week met and held talks with Kiir’s deputy, Mr Riek Machar. In the meeting, Sudan told Kony that either the LRA ceases killing civilians in Southern Sudan and enters negotiations with Uganda or the LRA must leave their territory. According to a source, Kony said he had killed people in Southern Sudan in retaliation for Uganda’s support to the SPLA/M and that he should be given time to stay in Sudan as he negotiates with Museveni’s government.

The outgoing minister of State for Regional Co-operation, Mr. Henry Okello Oryem, said that government welcomes any efforts towards establishing peace in northern Uganda, which has faced the brunt of Kony’s terror machinery. "The government’s position is that as much as we welcome any efforts, pressure (military) must be maintained and that these talks should not be long and protracted," he said on Saturday. Read more at The Monitor.

President Yoweri Museveni has ruled out further talks with the LRA rebel leaders who have been indicted by the International Criminal Court. Previous talks led by former minister Betty Bigombe failed. "Some people have been peddling lies that there can be a peaceful solution to (LRA leader Joseph) Kony. I don’t accept this. Unconditional forgiveness for all will be a big mistake. Kony and the other three commanders must face trial in The Hague." Museveni contined, "What remains to be done now is working with the Sudan government, the SPLA, the Congo government and MONUC to capture Kony and a few of his associates and hand them over to The Hague so that we end impunity." Read more at The New Vision.