On Thursday, the ENOUGH! initiative, working with the U.S. Institute of Peace and Uganda-CAN's new 'RESOLVE Uganda' organization, will host a Congressional briefing on "prospects for peace in northern Uganda." The speakers will include Betty Bigombe, John Prendergast and Michael Poffenberger. These speakers will particularly highlight the need for the international community to strengthen ongoing peace initiatives as the ceasefire expires and the region faces a return to active violence.

The historic Cessation of Hostilities (CoH) Agreement between the Government of Uganda and rebel Lord's Resistance Army is set to expire today, and without urgent action, northern Uganda will likely plunge back into the throes of violence and abduction. In response, we're asking you to join us in calling Members of Congress to sign a resolution introduced by Senator Feingold (D-WI) and Senator Brownback (R-KS), which calls on the Government and LRA to return to the peace talks, and for the U.S. to do all that it can to make sure this opportunity to achieve peace in northern Uganda is not lost.

To find out the contact information for your Members of Congress, click here and type in your zip code. You can also call the Capital Switchboard at 202-224-3121 and ask to be connected to your representatives. Here is an example of what you can say: "Hi, my name is _____ from ______, and I'm calling Senator/Representative _______ to express my concern about today's expiration of the ceasefire in northern Uganda. I urge Senator/Represenative _____ to vote in favor of the resolution led by Senators Feingold and Brownback, which urges the Government of Uganda and rebel Lord's Resistance Army to resume negotiations and renew the ceasefire. The lives of two million people displaced by this conflict, and tens of thousands of abducted children depend on the success of these negotiations."

A return to civil war, as may result from the expiration of the ceasefire truce, would yield disastrous results for the people of northern Uganda and for regional stability. Together, thousands of us will demand today that this new Congress shows moral leadership for peace in northern Uganda!

The online debate continues this week on the Washington Post's PostGlobal blog about prospects and possibilities for peace in northern Uganda. Recent topics include: (1) How committed to peace talks really is the Government of Uganda? (2) Does the ICC really remain an impediment to these negotiations? (3) How influential is the LRA's external wing over the rebel army? Post your comments and join the conversation here.

The Washington Post's PostGlobal blog is featuring an expert panel on "Achieving Peace in Uganda," moderated by Uganda-CAN. Visit PostGlobal, post a comment and join the conversation on global issues!

The New Vision has published Uganda-CAN's latest Op/Ed: "Who's to Blame if the Juba Peace Talks Collapse?" We write, "All parties – the Government, LRA and the international community – have, by their obstinacy, obstructed the progress of negotiations." We conclude, "The current impasse highlights the critical need for external confidence-building, inducements, sanctions and technical assistance to rejuvenate the peace process. Among other actions, the international community could strengthen the CoH Monitoring Team, inject accountability into the process, assist the mediator, sanction 'spoilers' in the LRA external wing, and bolster security for the displaced. Generic statements from the diplomatic community do not go far enough; only serious action will bring regional stability in not only Uganda, but also Sudan and DR Congo. Read the full text at The New Vision.

The Sudan Tribune has published an Op/Ed from Uganda-CAN, titled "Who's to Blame if the Juba Peace Process collapses?" In the Op/Ed, we write, "All parties – the Government, LRA and the international community – have, by their obstinacy, obstructed the progress of negotiations. At the current stalemate, the parties remain blind to their interests in a politics of peace: a blindness whose legacy will only be more blood and bad faith."

Regarding the Ugandan government, we write, "President Museveni and the Government have received much praise for their openness to these negotiations...This is deserved, however this acclaim may be averting scrutiny of recent decisions made by Kampala. Security officials in southern Sudan have reported that the UPDF is violating the CoH Agreement and pursuing LRA rebels, some of whom may even be blocked from reaching the designated assembly points." We continue, "While the LRA may not be able to return to Uganda en force, northerners still lack faith in the ability and will of the UPDF to provide security for their return home. Government’s 'responsibility to protect' means a responsibility to fully and flexibly engage the peace talks..."

On the LRA, we write, "LRA intransigence and political maneuvering have also presented significant obstacles to the process...Divisions between the High Command, negotiating team, and external wing are undermining the LRA’s ability to present a coherent, and even consistent, political agenda. In addition, security officials have confirmed that LRA rebels committed several of the recent attacks on civilians near Juba, violating the CoH Agreement. Given increasing international scrutiny and mounting pressure on the ICC to deliver arrests, the LRA is foolish to abandon this opportunity, which may likely be their last, to secure a peace end to the war."

Finally, on the international community, we write, "However, current intractability of the situation can also be blamed on the international community, which has retained a largely passive position. The current impasse highlights the critical need for external confidence-building, inducements, sanctions and technical assistance to rejuvenate the peace process. Among other actions, the international community could strengthen the CoH Monitoring Team, inject accountability into the process, assist the mediator, sanction 'spoilers' in the LRA external wing, and bolster security for the displaced." Read the full text at The Sudan Tribune.