The New Vision reports that LRA leader Joseph Kony is walking to the Sudan-DR Congo border to sign the Final Peace Agreement this week with the Government. Kony will sign at the Ri-Kwangba site two days ahead of the official ceremony in Juba, because he fears arrest. Meanwhile, part of the LRA negotiations team, led by David Matsanga, has moved to Ri-Kwangba to prepare the venue and to receive guests that are reportedly swarming the place to witness the historic event. LRA sources also said a number of people from northern Uganda and the diaspora were preparing to travel to Ri-Kwangba to witness the signing.

Reuters reports that LRA leader Joseph Kony will sign the Final Peace Agreement (FPA) at Ri-Kwangba the South Sudan-DR Congo border two days before the official signing ceremony on April 5th in Juba. The Monitor reports that the South Sudan government will provide a battalion of soldiers to guard Kony and his fighters once they agree to disarm after the signing of the FPA.

The New Vision reports that the Ugandan government is requesting LRA leader Joseph Kony to come to Juba for the signing of the Final Peace Agreement on 5 April. "We agreed on Juba as the venue. Kony is scheduled to sign for the LRA, while President Yoweri Museveni will sign for the Government. We would like to see Kony personally present. He will be safe and protected," the government's chief negotiator, Ruhakana Rugunda, said yesterday. However, in a Voice of America interview, Rugunda said the government is willing to sign with any other credible representation authorized by Kony. The lead LRA negotiator has said Kony will sign the FPA from the Ri-Kwangba assembly point.

In a softening of position, the LRA has said it will sign the Final Peace Agreement (FPA) next week, but then will only disarm if ICC indictments against its top leaders are deferred. "A signed copy will be given to (the Ugandan) government. Then the government will have the obligation to take the copy to the UN Security Council and ask for a 12-month suspension of the warrants before the LRA could disarm," David Matsanga, the head of the LRA delegation at the talks, said. Up until a few days ago, the rebel movement had insisted the indictments be dropped altogether before an agreement signed. Read more at IRIN News.

The New Vision reports that LRA chief negotiator has said that rebel leader Joseph Kony will personally sign the Final Peace Agreement, now slated for April 5, at the Ri-Kwangba assembly site in southern Sudan. David Nyekorach Matsanga said that Kony assured him he would sign but at the assembly point, not in Juba. However, the leader of the Government delegation, internal minister Rugunda Ruhakana, said it was impossible to move the entire ceremony to Ri-Kwangba given the big number of dignitaries, including presidents, expected to attend.

The Independent, Uganda's newest weekly newspaper run by Andrew Mwenda, reports that intelligence sources claim LRA leader Joseph Kony is unlikely to hand himself over the Ugandan government for trial, even if he signs the final agreement next week. Kony has allegedly made contact with rebels in Central African Republic, while at the same time officials in Khartoum may be trying to re-establish ties with him. Though the UPDF calls the LRA is a "spent force," independent observers still believe Kony could cause trouble in the region and even possibly return to Uganda. However, The Independent reports that this time the UDPF would be bolstered by intelligence and technological support from other Great Lakes governments and especially the U.S. military.

Reuters reports that the Ugandan government and LRA yesterday signed documents outlining the Final Peace Agreement and implementation timetable, setting the stage for the final signing by 5 April. "We have completed all the negotiations successfully. We have moved from enemies to be brothers and sisters again," said Ugandan lead negotiator Minister Ruhakana Rugunda. However, the chief LRA negotiator, David Nyekorach Matsanga, said the rebels would not begin to implement the deal until the ICC lifted its arrest warrants for top rebel leader Joseph Kony and his deputies. "We cannot assemble or disarm when the ICC warrants are still on our heads," said Matsanga. He said Kony would sign the deal, but not in Juba because of the threat of arrest.

The deadline to sign the Final Peace Agreement (FPA) between the Ugandan government and LRA has reportedly been pushed back a week from 28 March to 3 April. Apparently both the LRA negotiating team and chief mediator Dr. Riek Machar asked for the delay. "The LRA requested for more time to discuss with leadership in the bush on the final text of the agreement," UPDF spokesman Chris Magezi said.

Leaders from northern Uganda are traveling to Juba at the invitation of the LRA negotiating team to discuss next steps to break the deadlock over ICC arrest warrants and finalize the Final Peace Agreement (FPA). Read more at The New Vision.

The New Vision reports that the LRA negotiating team is still vowing not to sign the Final Peace Agreement (FPA) unless arrest warrants for rebel leader Joseph Kony are dropped. "We have told the Uganda government that they must drop the warrants...We want to make it categorically clear that the obstacle is the warrants," David Matsanga said. Voice of America reports that chief mediator Dr. Riek Machar summoned the LRA delegation to meet with him today to find a solution to this deadlock.

The Ugandan government has confirmed reports that LRA leader Joseph Kony and a group of rebels have crossed into Central African Republic. However, international relations state minister Henry Okello Oryem said Kony's flight would not deter the Government’s commitment to the Juba peace process. "But we shall continue implementing the undertakings that we have covered and signed in Juba. The Judiciary, Parliament, the army and other government organs are putting together mechanisms to implement the agreements," he said. Read more at The New Vision.

Just days after reporting that Joseph Kony has shifted camp from the DR Congo to the Central African Republic (CAR), The Monitor today quotes “multiple sources” as confirming that the rebel leader has “established contact” with Chadian rebel leader Mahamat Nouri. Nouri is one of the leaders of the Chadian rebel grouping that stormed the Chadian capital of N’Djamena last month, allegedly with the support of the Sudanese government in Khartoum. If the news is true, it would be a further indicator that Kony may be unwilling to abide by the final peace agreement being negotiated in Juba. However, the head of the LRA delegation there denied the allegations, saying, "Kony will be in Ri-Kwangba (on the Sudan/DR Congo border) to meet religious leaders on March 22 and all those pessimists will be embarrassed." Read more at The Monitor.

A short article in today’s Monitor examines the lasting physical and psychosocial effects that the 1981-1986 civil war in the Luwero Triangle in central Uganda has had on survivors - a reminder of both the national scope of conflict in Uganda’s history and the need for a robust national reconciliation process. Read more at The Monitor.

The Beyond Juba Project, a groundbreaking civil society initiative to promote national reconciliation and a sustainable peace in Uganda, has launched a new website. The website includes extensive background information and analysis of conflict and transitional justice in Uganda, a monthly “Peace Talk Newsletter” for teens and news on upcoming Ugandan civil society events.

The three-year Beyond Juba Project “aims to generate support for a national reconciliation process in Uganda by demonstrating the extent to which conflicts and their legacies are a national problem and by assisting in the development of appropriate transitional justice mechanisms with which to address these legacies.” It is a joint initiative of the Refugee Law Project, the Human Rights and Peace Network, and the Faculty of Law at Makerere University. Read more at the Beyond Juba website.

The Monitor reports today that LRA leader Joseph Kony and a group of LRA rebels have crossed into southeastern Central African Republic (CAR). Ugandan authorities said on Friday that the CAR government and French military forces in CAR confirmed Kony’s presence near the small town of Obo. Last month hundreds of LRA rebels were seen moving towards CAR, but Kony was believed to have remained in his Garamba camp in DR Congo. If true, Kony’s move to CAR raises further doubts that he is willing to sign the final peace agreement being negotiated in Juba. David Matsanga, the head of the LRA negotiating team in Juba, called the allegations that Kony had shifted camp “total rubbish.”

CAR’s President Bozize has agreed to cooperate closely with the Ugandan government regarding the LRA. However, the CAR government is very weak, with widespread insecurity in northwestern CAR, while a European peacekeeping force is deploying in the northeastern part of the country in coming weeks. The area around Kony’s alleged new camp in southeastern CAR is controlled by the rebel Popular Army for the Restoration of Democracy (APRD), which allegedly has links with the Government of Sudan – raising fears that the LRA hopes to rejuvenate its own historical ties with Khartoum. CAR is a signatory to the Rome Statue governing the ICC, and the world court is currently investigating crimes committed there. Read more at The Monitor.

The Sudan Tribune reports that the Vice-President of South Sudan, also chief mediator of the Juba negotiations, has confirmed an earlier report from the CHMT that the LRA rebels were not responsible for attacks last month in southern Sudan. Dr. Riek Machar Teny has confirmed that investigations on last month’s killings of innocent civilians in Kajo-Kaji, Lanya and Yei Counties in Central Equatoria state revealed that the culprits were Southern Sudanese, not the LRA as previously alleged.

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Angelo Izama, reporter for The Monitor and current National Endowment for Democracy fellow, wrote in a column earlier this week that "the Juba peace deal is still short on peace." Izama argues that lasting peace will require more than signing a piece of paper; it will "depend heavily on dismantling the military machine of the LRA and its support networks as much as it does on closing the gap between marginalised (largely non-Bantu) northerners and their more privileged (mainly Bantu) southerners." He writes that there is reason to be optimistic, but "ethnicised corruption (increasing complaints that the President and a few of his relatives and cronies are sponging off the public purse), a weak economy and grave challenges to Museveni's legitimacy suggest a tough road ahead." Read the full column here.

In a staff editorial, The New Vision has called on LRA leader Joseph Kony to "seize the opportunity" offered by President Museveni's "good gesture" this week. Museveni said that Kony and other top rebel leader can escape prosecution by the International Criminal Court (ICC) if he signs a final peace agreement. The New Vision writes, "Kony and his peace negotiating team led by Nyekorach Matsanga should move quickly to conclude the peace deal, if possible, by the end of this month as scheduled."

More on President Museveni's comments in London: The New Vision is reporting that Museveni said the Ugandan government can "save" LRA leader Joseph Kony and his co-accused from prosecution by the International Criminal Court (ICC) if he signs a final peace agreement. "Because he was not under our jurisdiction, we sought assistance from the ICC. If he signs the peace agreement and returns to our jurisdiction, it becomes our responsibility not any other party’s, including the ICC," he said. These remarks signal a new willingness by President Museveni to not let the criminal indictments stand in the way of the LRA ending their rebellion and signing a final peace deal.

Speaking on Voice of America, the LRA's chief negotiator David Matsanga has said that, if true, President Museveni's recent comments that the LRA rebels will not have to face the International Criminal Court are a good development. "If that is the situation that the government can put it in practical terms and assures us in black and white and say they have actually no longer acknowledge the ICC as a warranting body, that it can issue warrants against Kony and others, then that is a very good development for us...And if that is the information that has come from President Museveni's mouth, then that is very, very good news for the peace process. And we shall go back and talk with General Joseph Kony," he said. Matsanga further said Kony would likely come out of the bush to sign the final peace agreement but only if President Museveni puts into writing that Joseph Kony and his lieutenants would not face the ICC.

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Speaking in London today, President Museveni said that the top rebel leaders of the LRA will face traditional justice mechanisms and avoid prison if they sign a final peace this month. Under this system, someone who has "committed a mistake" asks for forgiveness and pays some compensation, Museveni said. "In that case, we can approach the ICC and say, yes, those people who we have brought to your attention have now come (back)...Therefore we ask you to withdraw our complaint." These comments reaffirm the Ugandan government's commitment to request removal of the ICC indictments upon the signing of an agreement. However, Museveni's talk of a "traditional blood settlement mechanism" for indicted rebel leaders seems to conflict with the Agreement on Accountability & Reconciliation signed in Juba that calls for a "special division of the Ugandan High Court to be established to try individuals alleged of committing serious crimes during the conflict." Read more at Reuters.

Speaking with The Monitor today, Gulu district chairman Norbert Mao said that failure by the Ugandan government to implement a Juba peace agreement could risk reversing progress made in the peace process. Mao called on the Government to ensure that both victims and former LRA combatants are able to rebuild their lives, and suggested that it move to “enact a war victims compensation Act which should define who a war victim is, what type of entitlements a war victim should get irrespective of their political affiliation.” He also commented on the Ugandan government’s refusal yet to approach the UN Security Council to suspend ICC arrest warrants against top LRA leaders, saying that it should not be expected to do so until a final peace agreement is signed. In addition, Mao said that the LRA should be expected to implement a final agreement by disarming and demobilizing. Read the full interview at The Monitor.

The Uganda Amnesty Commission has requested $8 million dollars from the World Bank and other donors to facilitate the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of LRA rebels should a final peace agreement be signed. The commission was created in 2000 by the Amnesty Act, which stipulates that any rebel who peacefully surrenders and renounces rebellion will be granted amnesty and given reintegration assistance. However, potential differences between the provisions of the Amnesty Act and those laid out in the Juba agreements on accountability and reconciliation and DDR may have to be ironed out. Read more at The New Vision.

Salva Kiir, leader of South Sudan, visited Uganda this week and committed his government to continuing its role as mediators in the Juba peace talks. He said it was premature to talk of a military “Plan B” solution to the LRA conflict and expressed hope that a final peace agreement could be signed, saying "We are mediators. We still hope peace is imminent." Read more at allAfrica.com.

The Sudan Tribune writes that the Cessation of Hostilities Monitoring Team (CHMT) has reported to chief mediator Riek Machar that the LRA were not responsible for attacks earlier this year in various parts of the Greater Equatoria region in South Sudan. CHMT head, SPLA Major General Wilson Deng Wek issued the statement after the monitoring team carried out investigations into last month’s attacks in Kajo-Keji County by unknown gun men, leaving dozens of people dead and wounded. The CHMT is composed of representatives from the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA), the Ugandan army, the LRA, and the African Union observer countries. This report likely brings a certain degree of relief to those who feared that rebel attacks last month in Sudan might derail the momentum of the Juba peace process. Nevertheless, allegations of fresh LRA attacks have continued this month, including the recent killing of a Congolese prince.

Here's the full text of yesterday's half-page ad in The New Vision by Civil Society Organizations for Peace in Northern Uganda: "CSOPNU congratulates the Government of Uganda and the Lord's Resistance Army upon the recent agreements on accountability and reconciliation (annexure), permanent ceasefire and DDR under the Juba Peace Talks.

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Female leaders from around the world appealed this week for a larger political role for women in solving conflicts and eradicating poverty. Political and civil leaders, foreign ministers, top EU and U.N. officials, and more gathered in Brussels to promote women's empowerment ahead of International Women's Day on Saturday. This is quite relevant to the Juba peace negotiations, where there have been a disproportionate number of women participating. Yet, including women’s voices and leadership is critical for sustainable peace in northern Uganda.

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Support continues to grow in northern Uganda for the UN Security Council to suspend the ICC arrest warrants for Joseph Kony and top LRA leaders. A key civil society coalition in northern Uganda, Civil Society Organizations for Peace in Northern Uganda (CSOPNU), today released a statement that urges both parties to respect the peace agreements signed in Juba. It urges the Ugandan government to "move faster on its promise to approach the UN Security Council to suspend the ICC indictments of the LRA," while calling on the LRA to respect the permanent ceasefire and assemble peacefully in Ri-kwangba. Several members of Uganda’s parliament from northern Uganda also urged the UNSC to suspend the warrants while speaking to reporters last week.

An essential factor in building local and international support for a UNSC suspension of the ICC warrants will be credible evidence that Joseph Kony will abide by the Juba peace agreements - specifically by signing a final peace agreement in coming weeks and moving to assemble his forces in the Ri-Kwangba assembly area in southern Sudan.

Details continue to emerge about how the recent flurry of agreements signed in Juba will be implemented. Last Friday the parties, in addition to signing a deal on agenda item #4 (DDR), inked an agreement on implementation and monitoring mechanisms for the final deal expected to be signed later this month. It foresees a significant for role for the US and international community to act as guarantors of a final peace agreement. A few of the highlights:

- a transitional period of one month after a final peace agreement is signed to allow the parties to prepare for its implementation. During this time the LRA is obligated to observe the permanent ceasefire and assemble in Ri-kwangba, while the Ugandan government works on setting up the accountability and reconciliation mechanisms provided for in the agenda item #3 agreement and requests the UN Security Council defer ICC investigations and prosecutions of top LRA leaders.

- A “Joint Liaison Group” (JLG) composed of LRA and Ugandan government representatives tasked with monitoring and making recommendations on the implementation of the final peace agreement, a proposed “stakeholder’s conference” and "national programmes" relevant to the agreement.

- An “Oversight Forum” to address any disputes arising between the two parties and the JLG and to promote confidence-building measures between the parties. Chief mediator Riek Machar will chair the Forum, UN envoy Joaquim Chissano will be its spokesman and membership will include the US and other observers to the Juba peace talks.

- A “Ceasefire Monitoring Team” (CMT) to monitor the implementation of the agenda item #4 agreement on disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of the LRA combatants. Membership will include senior officers from the South Sudanese army (SPLA), LRA, Ugandan government, AU observer countries and UN.

The LRA and Ugandan government are scheduled to reconvene later this month to work out an implementation schedule for the final peace agreement. Read more at The Sudan Tribune.

Gulu district chairman Norbert Mao said that LRA chief Joseph Kony assured him today via telephone that he is willing to sign a final peace agreement in person. Mao also urged the UN Security Council to suspend the ICC indictments against top LRA leaders in order to allow the peace process to move forward and for the parties to implement the accountability and reconciliation mechanisms agreed to in agenda item #3 of the Juba negotiations. Peace talks stalled this week after the LRA and Ugandan government failed to reach an agreement on whether to sign a final deal before or after initiating efforts to persuade the UNSC to defer the ICC indictments. Read more at The New Vision.

Luis Moreno-Ocampo, the Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, said today that he will not meet with a LRA legal team that is reportedly traveling to The Hague to urge the ICC to drop its indictments against top LRA leaders. He defended his case and said that any challenge would have to be lodged before the ICC’s pre-trial chamber. The Court’s registry has expressed willingness to meet with the LRA delegation to discuss procedural issues regarding the indictments. Read more at The New Vision.

The Daily Nation reports that the Ugandan government is insisting that they can only approach the UN Security Council about suspending the ICC arrest warrants if the LRA delegation signs the final peace agreement by the end of this month. The LRA have insisted however that the government begin that process before the final deal is signed. State minister for defence, Ruth Nankabirwa said the only way to have the indictments suspended temporary is for the rebels to sign the deal first and place themselves under the jurisdiction of Ugandan authorities.

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The New Vision reports that, along with signing an agreement on the final agenda item, the parties in Juba agreed Saturday to extend the cessation of hostilities to the end of March, when the final peace agreement is expected to be signed. The negotiations have broken off until March 12, when the teams are expected to reconvene to iron out the remaining issues and fix the date of signing. "If we have to respect this document, we have to sign before March 28," chief mediator Dr. Riek Machar stressed.

More groundbreaking news from the negotiations in Juba! The Ugandan government and LRA delegations have today signed the last of the five agenda items, paving the way for a final peace agreement to be signed. A peace deal is now literally "on the table." Yet, just hours later, the LRA delegation stormed out of a meeting, refusing the chief mediator's insistence that a date be set for the final signing. The delegation said again they will not sign a final agreement until ICC indictments against the top rebel leaders are removed. Apparently, according to Reuters, the Ugandan government agreed to ask the UN Security Council to adopt a resolution requesting the ICC "defer all investigations and prosecutions against leaders of the Lord's Resistance Army." More analysis to follow later.