Norway has told NGOs involved in the peace talks between the Government and the LRA to stop "foreign shopping" for venues and mediators. "It is wrong to do any kind of foreign shopping for the shift of the venue and mediator of the ongoing peace talks," visiting Norwegian deputy minister for foreign affairs, Raymond Johansen, said on Sunday. Johansen added that the Norwegian government shall not enter into "such games." President Museveni on Sunday also blamed NGOs for the stalemate in the peace talks. "The President attributed the new position by LRA to NGOs that are giving them money, adding that the more they delay, the more money they get," a statement from the Press Secretary read. The LRA has requested both the Kenyan Government and IGAD to support their push for a new venue for the talks. Read more at The New Vision.

Underlying all of this politicking are violations by both sides of the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement. UPDF are reported to be still pursuing rebels in southern Sudan, leading to mistrust and hostility. Groups of LRA rebels have been also been accused of commiting attacks on civilians. A strengthened CoH Monitoring Team could be the first key step to restore confidence in the peace talks.

Gladys Oroma, Uganda-CAN news correspondent in northern Uganda, reports that LRA leader Joseph Kony has said President Museveni and the Ugandan government are not interested in peace talks to end the 20-year conflict in northern Uganda. Kony said the LRA is trying their best to engage talks, but the Ugandan government and that of southern Sudan seem less interested. Speaking on MegaFM radio on Thursday evening, Kony said the rebels wanted to settled in the two designated assemble points in southern Sudan, but they feared due to UPDF proximity.

LRA deputy commander Vincent Otti, also speaking on the radio, said, "Our forces in Southern Sudan are under constant attack by UPDF. So do you expect us to continue with the peace talks yet the Cessation of Hostility Agreement has never been honored?" Otti added that chief mediator Riek Machar is prejudiced. Otti further said, "I am informing you people in northern Uganda to understand what is happening regarding the peace talks. People should not lose hopes; we are for peace but going back to Juba and Riek Machar as the mediator, means we are not solving our problem," he said.

As the LRA and Ugandan government exchange accusations, where is the Cessation of Hostilities Monitoring team to bring some transparency and accountability to the process? Now more than ever, external support for CoH monitoring could be decisive to rejuvenate the peace process.

The U.N. envoy for northern Uganda and former Mozambican president, Joaquim Chissano has said that peace talks will only resume if the Ugandan government agrees to negotiate with the LRA at a different venue. "The way forward now is to concentrate on finding the solution to the problem of the venue," Chissano said after returning to Maputo following a 10-day mission to break the impasse. "I think this (venue change) can ... reignite the dialogue," said Chissano. Read more at Reuters AlertNet.

The LRA yesterday called on Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki to help identify a new mediator and venue for the stalled peace talks with the Ugandan government. The LRA want Mr Kibaki to intervene as the current chairman of the Inter Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD). The rebels want the peace talks moved from Juba in South Sudan, where they claim they are unwanted. Today, three representatives of the LRA addressed a press conference in Nairobi and strongly condemned a recent statement by South Sudan President Salva Kiir, who told LRA to stop committing acts of terrorism against his people in Southern Sudan. Read more at The Monitor.

World Politics Watch has produced an exclusive look at the gridlocked peace talks for northern Uganda. They write, "Six months of peace talks to end more than two decades of conflict in northern Uganda have been virtually for naught, and their progress is now being held up by a simple question of geography." They explain how the venue for peace talks, along with the existing International Criminal Court arrest warrants, have brought challenging dilemmas to the search for peace. Read the full article at World Politics Watch.

The chief mediator of the Juba peace talks is urgently seeking audience with LRA leader Joseph Kony, as he struggles to put the stalled peace talks back on course. Dr. Riek Machar, accompanied by the Cessation of Hostilities Monitoring Team, on Sunday headed for Kony’s hideout in Nabang in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Government of South Sudan officials said on Monday. "He went to convince them to resume the talks," Rehan Abdelnabi, the acting director of South Sudan Radio, told a press conference. Read more at The New Vision.

Vice President Gilbert Bukenya has appealed to LRA leader Joseph Kony to prevail on his negotiating team to return to Juba and continue with the peace talks. "The only way to realise peace is for the LRA to return to Juba. They can't stop the talks because we want peace so that IDPs return home. I appeal to the government and LRA teams to remain committed to the talks so that peace returns to this region," Prof. Bukenya said. The Vice President was on Friday addressing residents of Gulu, members of Uganda Local Government Authorities Association (all LC5 chairmen, district speakers and CAOs) after 3km peace march organised by the association to show solidarity with the suffering IDPs, and their support to the peace process. Read more at The Monitor.

South Sudan has invited four countries to join the peace negotiations between the Uganda government and the LRA in Juba, Dr. Riek Machar has said. Machar said the countries would join the talks as external observers and guarantors of any deal that will be signed. He identified the countries as South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania and Mozambique. Machar said the peace talks remain on and should resume by January 29. Machar reported the LRA have requested a meeting with Acholi parliamentarians, religious, cultural and local leaders in Nairobi, Kenya on Wednesday. The LRA continued on Saturday to reject the mediation of Machar, but it is unclear how they will respond to the potential involvement of these four governments. They will certainly find it hard to make a compelling case that peace talks involving such a regional political representation are prejudiced. Read more at The Monitor.

The Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) formally refused to return to peace talks in south Sudan on Friday and have accused Sudanese officials of embezzling money given to fund the talks. "Peace talks in Sudan are closed forever," LRA spokesman Obonyo Olweny told reporters in the Kenyan capital, saying the rebel movement had sent a letter to mediator Sudan to that effect on Friday. "The LRA will only resume negotiations in a new venue outside south Sudan, preferably Kenya or South Africa," he said. Olweny also noted that only half of the $5 million raised for the purpose had been spent. "We wonder whether this practice of embezzling donor funds meant for the peace process is condoned by the U.N. authorities," he said. Read more at Reuters.

The Ugandan government and LRA rebels must resume talks to ensure peace in northern Uganda that has enabled hundreds of thousands of refugees to go home, the British aid agency Oxfam said today. Oxfam warned of a new humanitarian crisis reversing months of progress if better efforts were not made to bring the LRA back to the negotiating table after they quit talks in south Sudan. "These talks are the best chance for peace in 20 years. It is crucial both parties do everything within their power to ensure that (they) do not collapse," Oxfam said in a statement. Oxfam said relative peace had greatly improved the lives of people in northern Uganda. "Since the ceasefire the people of northern Uganda have enjoyed a semblance of normality," Oxfam said. "Roads and boreholes have been constructed and trade with south Sudan promises economic recovery." Read more at Reuters AlertNet.

The Government of South Sudan has said it is ready to step down as a mediator between the Government of Uganda and the Lords Resistance Army (LRA) in the Juba peace talks. "If they (LRA) are not coming we can't force them. Our intention was to help the suffering people of northern Uganda. If our mediation is not needed, we can't insist. They can go to another country," spokesman Samson Kwaje said yesterday. The LRA has insisted that is will not continue with talks, unless another country (they recommend Kenya/South Africa) is found to host them. The Government remains in full support of Juba as the venue and Dr. Riek Machar as the chief mediator. Read more at The Monitor.

LRA leader Joseph Kony remains in consultations over the return of his negotiating team to Juba for peace talks, Gulu RDC Walter Ochora has reported. Col. Ochora said he has been in touch with Kony and his deputy Vincent Otti since the LRA fallout last week with the Khartoum government. "Kony and Otti told me that they are reconsidering their position for their negotiating team to return to Juba for peace talks. They said they will get back to me," he said yesterday. Thus, there may be yet be hope that the Juba peace talks can be rejuvenated. Read more at The Monitor.

Diplomatic efforts to save the struggling Juba peace talks are underway. Dr. Riek Machar, the chief mediator of the talks whom the LRA want sacked, has been in touch with several international bodies, Uganda government officials, the LRA leadership and local leaders from the north in frantic efforts to salvage the talks. The LRA has requested that either the Kenyans or South Africans host and mediate continued talks. The South African High Commissioner in Kampala Henry Chiliza said that South Africa’s position was not yet known until they receive a formal request from the LRA. The Kenyan High Commission in Uganda too is awaiting a formal communication from the LRA. Both have urged the parties in Juba to continue with negotiations. Still, the LRA High Command has remained adamant, though they are currently in consultations reconsidering their stance. Northern leaders are insistent that Juba is the right place for these talks to continue. Read more at The Monitor.

The rocky trajectory of the Juba peace talks in 2007 continues as there are unconfirmed reports of possible LRA rebel movements towards the Uganda-Sudan border at two points: Atiak sub-county in Gulu District and the northwest part of Kitgum District. These possible movements come after LRA deputy commander Vincent Otti threatened to have his fighters retreat back into Uganda. Otti said this while reiterating the LRA's recent refusal to return to peace talks unless a new venue outside southern Sudan is found (the LRA are pushing for Kenya or South Africa). The situation is made more tense by several recent attacks in the Juba area. LRA fighters have been widely accused (and confirmed in some cases); at the same time, the LRA High Command still accuses the UPDF for continued attacks on its forces near designated assembly points in Sudan.

The recent statements and threats of the LRA may well be founded in some real concerns or may just be a political tactic to delay further negotiations. In any case, northern Ugandan leaders have been unequivocal in their insistence that the parties continue peace talks in Juba and adhere to the Cessation of Hostilities (CoH) Agreement. Any party that derails the talks or brings the collapse of the CoH will face widespread condemnation and a reprehensible reputation. As the parties discern their commitments, now more than ever external confidence-building measures are needed to revitalize this peace process. U.S. and international support and assistance can help ensure that this historic moment is not lost.

Gladys Oroma, Uganda-CAN news correspondent in northern Uganda, reports that the LRA leader Joseph Kony is hearing consultations to reconsider sending the LRA negotiating team back to Juba for the continuation of peace talks. Col. Walter Ochora, the Gulu RDC, said he has been in touch with Kony and his deputy Vincent Otti, pressing them to tell their negotiating team to return back to Juba for peace negotiations and signing of the peace agreement.

Ugandan government negotiators were ready to resume peace talks with the LRA today; however, the LRA continues to refuse to return to negotiations until a new venue is found. "We did not go to Juba yesterday because we got information that rebels were not there," Interior Minister Ruhanga Rukunda told journalists on Tuesday. He said that the rebels' latest walkout was temporary. Rugunda questioned the reason the rebels have given for their walkout, saying Ugandan officials had established that the Sudanese president "did not in anyway threaten to attack" the rebels. Read more at The Independent.

The leaders of the LRA peace delegation to the Juba peace talks reiterated their demand that the venue for peace talks be moved from Sudan, where they say the government and South Sudanese mediators favor the Government of Uganda. They also demanded that South Sudan VP Riek Machar be replaced as the chief mediator, writing in a letter to the Ugandan government, "We are therefore respectfully communicating our formal position to you and the government delegation to the talks, essentially, that LRA delegation has discontinued its participation in the peace talks if Juba remains the venue and Dr Machar remains the mediator." Read more at The Monitor.

However, Machar told reporters today that LRA leaders agreed to return to the peace talks in Juba once they receive another formal invitation to participate. Machar also met yesterday with the recently-appointed UN Special Envoy to northern Uganda, Joachim Chissano. Read more at Reuters AlertNet.

A team from the LRA reportedly spent part of the Christmas break from the Juba peace talks searching for evidence of killings and human rights violations by the UPDF in parts of the Teso sub-region of Uganda. They are reported to have visited Mukura in Kumi district, where 69 people died while in military detention in 1989. Read more at The Monitor.

Kenya's deputy parliament speaker has advised the Lord’s Resistance Army to continue talking peace in Juba, southern Sudan. Samuel Poghisio described the current demands by LRA to change the venue from Juba to Nairobi as a tactic aimed at delaying the signing of the peace agreement. Poghisio, who is also the regional chairperson of the Great Lakes Parliamentary Forum on Peace (AMANI Forum), told journalists at parliament yesterday that the forum would not support any act that delayed the peace process. Accompanied by other forum members, Poghisio also presented a petition to the Speaker of the Uganda Parliament, urging parliament to pass a resolution supporting the peace talks and individual parties at the talks. Read more at The New Vision.

The United Nations special envoy for northern Uganda, Joachim Chissano, has assured leaders in the region that he will do his best for the success of the peace talks in Juba. The former Mozambique president, who yesterday concluded his two-day visit in Uganda, met South Sudan president Salva Kiir and his vice Riek Machar over the fate of the peace talks. Meanwhile, the LRA High Command, led by Joseph Kony, refused to meet Chissano despite his offer to visit them in their Garamba hideout in DR Congo. Read more at The New Vision.

The Government has rejected demands from the LRA to have the peace talks shifted from Juba, southern Sudan to Kenya or South Africa. "On our side, Juba is the best place for the talks," the government's delegation spokesman Capt. Paddy Ankunda said yesterday. "This is not the first time the LRA are saying this. They have a black spot on their faces and no country can simply allow indicted people into their country. Juba is the best place for the negotiations," Capt. Ankunda said. He said the government team, led by Minister Ruhakana Rugunda, would be in Juba by Monday to resume the talks, unless the mediator and the South Sudan Vice President Riek Machar give contrary advice. Read more at The Monitor.

LRA deputy commander Vincent Otti has confirmed that the LRA will not participate in further peace talks unless the venue is changed from Juba. The announcement last week came from the LRA High Command. "It is correct. We gave the order. The talks must take place in a neutral African country, preferably Kenya or South Africa, but not Sudan. Sudan has declared they do not want us," Otti said. "They (Sudan) are Uganda’s allies. They are together. My delegates in Juba are always under threat. They are being harassed by the Government to sign the agreement by force," Otti added. Analysts, however, believe the demand to change the venue is part of a move by the 'political' wing of the LRA, headed by chief LRA negotiator Martin Ojul, to become more autonomous from the military wing, headed by Joseph Kony and Otti. Read more at The New Vision.

The Kenyan Standard has published an article profiling Obonyo Olweny, the spokesman for the LRA negotiating delegation at peace talks in Juba. The interview with Mr. Olweny provides insight into the background of the LRA delegation and also LRA leader Joseph Kony. Read more at The Standard.

The Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) has 'disengaged' from peace negotiations with the Ugandan government and will not continue the process until a neutral host country is found, the LRA spokesman Obonyo Olweny said today. "In the circumstances and due to security considerations, [the] LRA delegation are not going back to Juba but would prefer that the talks resume in a neutral venue, preferably Kenya, South Africa or other neutral country," he told a news conference in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi. Olweny said the rebels' decision followed recent comments by Sudanese President Omar El Bashir and South Sudan President Salva Kiir Mayardit that the LRA was no longer welcome in southern Sudan. Olweny said the LRA would continue to respect the cessation of hostilities agreement signed in August 2006 and subsequent protocols. Yet, the rebels have urged the chairman of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki, to convene an IGAD conference "to salvage the talks by agreeing to an alternative venue."

Ugandan Minister of State for International Relations Okello Oryem responded that the rebels were confused. "The statement made by the Sudanese authorities should have been taken in the right context. They said: if there is no peace agreement signed, then the government will kick out the LRA. This shouldn't have been a basis of argument because we are in talks," he said. The head of the Acholi Religious Leaders' Peace Initiative, Archbishop John Baptist Odama, said: "The LRA should reconsider their demands because the people in northern Uganda are over-anxious to see that the peace process succeeds." Urging the rebels to return to the talks, Odama added: "They should talk over the disagreement instead of pulling out. This is not going to go down well with the IDPs [internally displaced persons] who have borne the brunt of the conflict and were over-expectant." Read more at Reuters AlertNet.

The new UN envoy for Uganda's conflict with LRA rebels said today he would not intervene over war crimes indictments issued against LRA leaders, an issue which could block peace efforts. Joaquim Chissano, the former president of Mozambique, said he would work with the ICC, but would not impose any solutions. "That matter (of indictments) is between the court and the government of Uganda ... I will not indulge in that, I can talk to them both, but only in trying to facilitate the peace process," he said. Read more at Reuters AlertNet.

Dr. Riek Marchar, the chief mediator at the ongoing peace talks in Juba, has appointed three Ugandan lawyers as legal advisers to the negotiating teams. The appointees include former minister Owiny Dollo, Jacob Oulanyah and Barney Afako. The three lawyers will assist the chief mediator and his team, the LRA and the government on issues relating to the International Criminal Court (ICC) indictments, amnesty offer and the traditional system of justice. According to the leader of the government delegation, Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda, the three lawyers enjoy the support of all the parties. The lawyers recently camped with Kony at his base in Ri-Kwangba where they discussed the warrants, indictments, reconciliation and accountability, which are item number three on the peace talks agenda. Read more at The Monitor.

President Museveni has agreed that the government will bankroll the upcoming Acholi leaders trip and stay at Owinyi-ki-Bul, one of two LRA assembly points in South Sudan. The Acholi leaders’ trip is a confidence building measure designed to boost the on going talks between the LRA and the Government in Juba. The confidence building move follows complaints by LRA commanders in South Sudan that they are not being given opportunity to see their relatives and meet the northern Uganda leaders like their counterparts in Ri-Kwangba. Read more at The Monitor.

The Uganda Government has registered 16 violations of the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement by suspected rebels since the agreement was signed on August 26, 2006. This list includes at least 60 civilians killed, over 40 civilians injured and 18 vehicles ambushed. Security sources in Kampala accuse mediators of taking the soft stance on these violations. The chief mediator Dr. Riek Machar has said he wants an urgent probe into the mysterious ambushes. When contacted, UPDF spokesman Major Felix Kulayigye said there was no doubt who was carrying out the attacks. "We are sure the LRA is behind these activities. We know it because of the testimonies of the survivors," he said. The LRA, on the other hand, has accused the UPDF of attacking their fighters around Owiny-Ki-Bul, and are demanding that the UPDF withdraw from the area. Read more at The New Vision.

Gladys Oroma, Uganda-CAN correspondent in northern Uganda, reports that cultural, religious and political leaders from northern Uganda are to camp at the LRA assembly point in Owinyi-Ki-Bul, southern Sudan as part of ongoing confidence building measures. The team is expected to travel next week and camp there. The team includes Gulu LC V Norbert Mao, former minister Owiny Dollo and Mega FM LRA presenter John Lacambel Oryema. Others are Archbishop John Baptist Odama, Bishop Nelson Onono-Onweng and two NGO officials. The group will listen to the fears and concerns of the LRA commanders.

LRA deputy commander Vincent Otti has appealed to the Ugandan Government to be committed to the Juba peace talks. This was contained in his New Year's message that was broadcast on MegaFM radio on Monday. Otti said, "Our appeal to the Government of Uganda is to show commitment to the Juba peace talks by stopping the UPDF from attacking our forces so that everlasting peace returns to the north...We in Ri-Kwangba are fine but our commanders and forces in Owiny-Kibul are being attacked by the UPDF almost daily." Read more at The New Vision.