Voice of America interviewed Uganda-CAN senior researcher Peter Quaranto last night about the new report, Seizing the Second Chance: Peace on the Horizon for Uganda. Quaranto said, "Over the years, the interactions between the parties has been tainted by mistrust, hypocrisy, and often schizophrenic statements by both sides. And what the introduction of an external mediator with the stature and the respect that Chissano brings to the process has been able to do is to hold the parties accountable." Uganda-CAN's new report says that more engagement from external actors, especially the U.S. government may be crucial to keeping the process together.

As for "comprehensive solutions" to the war, "Neither Kampala nor the LRA are really fit to be addressing the longstanding political grievances that the people of northern Uganda have," Quaranto said. "Clearly, the LRA, by terrorizing its own population, and in abducting upwards to thirty thousand children, has no place doing so. But the government of Uganda, failing its responsibility of protecting those people, equally so." The new report urges a greater role therefore for civil society in the process. "It has not been reported the degree and the courage to which northern Ugandan leaders, Chief Acana, Archbishop Odama and Norbert Mao. These people have been critical behind-the-scene players going between the parties and reminding people that this process is not just about political maneuvering, but it’s about the one-point-seven million people displaced in northern Uganda," Quaranto said. Listen to the full interview at Voice of America.

WASHINGTON D.C. – Historic peace talks to end the 21-year war in northern Uganda, thought to have collapsed, will get a second chance when the parties meet in Juba today. However, a new policy report released today by Uganda-CAN, Seizing the Second Chance: Peace on the Horizon in Uganda, argues that unless issues of trust, transparency and transitional justice are addressed with new flexibility, a comprehensive agreement will remain unlikely.

"The leadership of UN special envoy Chissano, the involvement of regional countries and the cooperation of MONUC all give new hope to the peace process," said Peter Quaranto, Uganda-CAN senior researcher. "Still, securing lasting peace will require fresh thinking and flexibility by all stakeholders." Uganda-CAN’s new report urges confidence building, strengthened ceasefire monitoring, and sanctioning external LRA "spoilers" as steps to strengthen the talks. Further, Uganda-CAN says that justice is about more than ICC indictments. "Ultimately, a just peace will require processes that empower northerners to express their grievances and participate fully in national political processes."

"In particular, with the Juba talks getting a second chance, so does the U.S. government," said Quaranto. Though the U.S. has been assisting the Ugandan government, it has expressed little public support or engagement for the talks. The new report says, "Given immense U.S. involvement in Ugandan affairs, the lack of public support breeds suspicion and undermines confidence in the peace process." It recommends that the Bush Administration issue a public statement of support for the talks, contribute to the UN Juba Initiative Fund and send a high-ranking senior official to assist as needed. "High-level U.S. diplomatic engagement can bring unique leverage and resource mobilization to this African-led process," said Quaranto.

Finally, the report says, "With all eyes on Juba, the humanitarian imperative in northern Uganda has lost momentum." At least 1.4 million people remain in squalid internal-displacement camps. The Ugandan government’s new recovery plan provides an encouraging framework, but concerns remain about prospects for its implementation. In addition, issues of gender-based violence and land rights continue to be overlooked. "The Ugandan government’s protection responsibilities extend far beyond just stopping rebel attacks," said Paul Ronan, Uganda-CAN conflict analyst. Read the full report here.

The Sudan Tribune has reprinted Uganda-CAN's latest analysis, titled "A second chance for peace in Uganda?" The article, first published on openDemocracy.net, argues that "reviving the peace process and ensuring its success are two different challenges. If an end to the violence in northern Uganda is to be negotiated, lessons will have to be learned from the failed first round of talks." We write, "A comprehensive agreement will only become possible if the three familiar, contentious issues - trust, transparency and transitional justice - are addressed with fresh thinking and flexibility." In the first set of talks, trust was undermined by the lacking involvement of influential actors, notably the U.S. government. Transparency was also lacking as both parties seriously violated the Cessation of Hostilities agreement. In addition, peace talks have exposed elements in the LRA external wing that continue advocating a return to violence. "These 'spoilers' will continue to disrupt the process unless international action is taken." Read the article at The Sudan Tribune.

openDemocracy.net, the leading independent website on global current affairs, has published our article on prospects for peace in northern Uganda. The article, titled "Ugandan peace: a second chance," says, "There is no guarantee that revived [peace] talks will succeed. A comprehensive agreement will only become possible if the three familiar, contentious issues - trust, transparency and transitional justice - are addressed with fresh thinking and flexibility." We write, "In the first set of talks, the lack of involvement of several influential actors - including the United States government, the African Union (AU) and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (Igad) - perpetuated this mistrust. Greater regional and international engagement not only would bring leverage, but also build confidence. These actors should not override GoSS's leadership, but their presence provides implicit accountability."

The article concludes, "The other face of justice involves the longstanding political exclusion of the war's primary victims, Uganda's northerners. Neither the Ugandan government nor the LRA can honestly claim to represent their best interests. Ultimately, a just peace will require processes that empower northerners to express and overcome their grievances. A start would be greater involvement of northern civil society at the peace talks. Such representation may be the most important reminder to the parties that negotiations are not just about politics, but about people's lives." Read the full article at openDemocracy.net.

Meghan Battle, one of Uganda-CAN's national student coordinators, writes:

200 students crowded into Boston College’s McGuinn Hall on Tuesday to kick off Uganda-CAN’s student movement Week of Action—"A Lifetime of War; The Opportunity of a Lifetime." For as long as we have been alive, the people of northern Uganda have been caught in the middle of Africa’s longest-running war. As our lives in America unfolded - first days of school, tryouts for the school sports team and term papers - our brothers and sisters in northern Uganda have faced a very different reality.

BC’s Uganda activists used concurrent timelines of how life in northern Uganda and America has unfolded over the past 21 years. They constructed a 30 foot timeline complete with the stories of two people who grew up half a world apart, but whose stories are now linked as they are both committed to a future of peace in northern Uganda. Grace Akallo, a World Vision spokesperson, shared her experiences as an abductee of the LRA and her fierce hope for peace in northern Uganda. Joanne Wu, who serves on the leadership of BC’s Uganda-CAN chapter, also shared her story, illustrating how American students have the ability to positively affect situations around the world by approaching them with resolve. The below timeline portrays the week's theme: "A Lifetime of War; The Opportunity of a Lifetime."

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