Hundreds are feared dead after fighting broke out yesterday between the Sudanese Army and former fighters of the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA). The fighting in the southern town of Malakal began three days ago and escalated into full-scale warfare yesterday. International Affairs Minister Henry Okello Oryem said that Kampala was "closely watching the situation." He continued, "We have made contact with Juba and the office of the mediator. He [Riek Machar] tells us that everything is on course and we should be on standby to go back to Juba...Whatever is happening will not affect the peace process." Riek Machar yesterday called for investigations into the military altercations and said everything is being done to restore order in Malakal. Read more at The Monitor.

The Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) is the inspiration for a rebel group featured in the latest James Bond movie, Casino Royale. The movie opens with a muddy murram road, thick woodland and an army Land Rover car with a Ugandan number plate before the words "Mbale Uganda" appear on screen. In Mbale, the film shows a ruthless warlord leader, the character supposedly modeled on LRA leader Joseph Kony. Read more at the The Monitor. We hope this subtle mainstream media coverage of the LRA might inspire people around the world to care about the crisis in northrn Uganda and act to support a peaceful resolution to the war.

We at Uganda-CAN maintain a focus on the northern region affected by the UPDF-LRA fighting, however it is important to note that other forms of violence persist in the region, including in north-eastern Uganda. Today, the UPDF reported that it had killed 12 people in weekend bombing raids against tribal warriors accused of shooting at a military helicopter over Uganda's north-east Karamoja region. However, sources in the area said the death toll was much higher and spoke of residents reporting as many as 500 people killed, with many more injuries from the bombing near the Kenyan-Ugandan border town of Kotido. Army spokesperson Major Felix Kulaije dismissed reports of mass casualties as "nonsense" but confirmed that military aircraft had conducted bombing. Despite his denial, community leaders in the area near Kotido said the bombings had targeted densely populated villages. Last week, the military said at least 27 people, including 16 soldiers, were killed in the same area in battles between the army and Karamojong tribal warriors whom the government is attempting to disarm in order to pacify the region. Read more at The Mail & Guardian.

Ugandan and South Sudan security officials have told The Monitor that recent killings of civilians in southern Sudan signals the birth of a "new LRA" with support from the Khartoum regime of President Omar el Bashir. Officials who spoke on condition of anonymity said the Sudanese Government is renewing support for several militias it supported prior to its January 2005 signing of a Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) with the southern Sudan Peoples Liberation Army. Many believe that Khartoum wishes to destabilize the South before a referendum on its secession (as guaranteed in the CPA) can be held in five years. Southern Sudan is well-known to be rich in resources, including oil: resources to which Khartoum does not want to lose access. Fifteen people arrested two weeks ago for the killings of 41 civilians near Juba have reportedly confessed to links with Khartoum. It should not be forgotten that Khartoum provided massive amounts of aid and arms to the LRA throughout the 1990s. Many fear a rekindling of this relationship or similar relationships could mean continued conflict for not only northern Uganda, but the entire region. Read more at The Monitor.

The UPDF has outlived its stay in southern Sudan following the expiry of a protocol that sanctioned a UPDF offensive against the LRA in Sudan, government sources confirmed yesterday. UPDF's presence in Sudan at the moment is based on a "gentleman's agreement" with Khartoum and Juba. Security sources in Kampala told said the UPDF's continued presence in Sudan, largely unsecured by any formal agreement, is because the South Sudan authorities consider the peace talks a genuine opportunity to end hostilities - and have consequently not renewed the old protocol. Read more a The Monitor.