LRA leader Joseph Kony invites northern Uganda leaders to meet him on 10 May
The New Vision reports that LRA leader Joseph Kony has invited leaders from northern and eastern Uganda to a meeting on May 10 at the assembly point in Ri-Kwangba. The chief mediator Riek Machar said on Friday the list of people invited included religious, cultural and local leaders as well as members of Parliament from the conflict affected areas. Machar said he had been in touch with Kony and said he would personally attend the meeting. "The peace process is on course...
We have not yet given up. Kony has also been in touch with the Acholi Paramount Chief and has given him some specific names of people he wants to meet at Ri-Kwangba," he said.
Meanwhile, the government's lead negotiator Ruhakana Rugunda warned the rebels of a regional response if they continued abducting people and attacking villages in Sudan, Congo and the Central African Republic. In the past few days, LRA groups were alleged to be looting supplies and agricultural tools in villages around the Congolese town of Duru. "If Kony continues to violate (the peace agreement) in that way, he will be mobilising the region and the international community to take action against him," Rugunda said. He predicted that more fighters would surrender and take advantage of the amnesty act if Kony failed to sign.
Meanwhile, the government's lead negotiator Ruhakana Rugunda warned the rebels of a regional response if they continued abducting people and attacking villages in Sudan, Congo and the Central African Republic. In the past few days, LRA groups were alleged to be looting supplies and agricultural tools in villages around the Congolese town of Duru. "If Kony continues to violate (the peace agreement) in that way, he will be mobilising the region and the international community to take action against him," Rugunda said. He predicted that more fighters would surrender and take advantage of the amnesty act if Kony failed to sign.