Ugandan Archbishop Implores UN to End Northern Uganda War
Reuters AlertNet reports that Archbishop John Baptist Odama spoke before the United Nations Security Council last week, imploring the international community to finally intervene in Uganda’s 20-year war, a protracted conflict marked by mass kidnappings of children and the indiscriminate killing of civilians.
"Some people described this war as the unforgotten war. To many others, this war is largely the most unknown war on the globe," H.E. Msgr Odama, the Archbishop of Gulu in northern Uganda, stated before the Security Council in New York. "I come here to bring the cry of the children, the cry of their dear mothers, and the cry of the families of dear children to the ears of the people who matter," Archbishop Odama said.
Archbishop Odama said that the conflict has been kept out of the international public’s eye in part due to the relatively low number of direct casualties, estimated at 200,000 people since 1986. The Ugandan government has also continuously labelled the war as a small internal conflict that it is slowly bringing under control. But the recent killing of eight UN peacekeepers in the neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo by LRA rebels belies that claim.
Archbishop Odama called upon the United Nations to prevail upon the warring factions to bring them into dialogue. He asked that the UN serve as mediator to bring about a lasting cease-fire, monitor claims of human rights violations, and oversee the reconciliation process and steps toward keeping a peace. He also asked that the UN establish a “Peace Corridor,” not only to be able to enforce peace agreements, but also to enable humanitarian agencies to reach the civilian population.
"Some people described this war as the unforgotten war. To many others, this war is largely the most unknown war on the globe," H.E. Msgr Odama, the Archbishop of Gulu in northern Uganda, stated before the Security Council in New York. "I come here to bring the cry of the children, the cry of their dear mothers, and the cry of the families of dear children to the ears of the people who matter," Archbishop Odama said.
Archbishop Odama said that the conflict has been kept out of the international public’s eye in part due to the relatively low number of direct casualties, estimated at 200,000 people since 1986. The Ugandan government has also continuously labelled the war as a small internal conflict that it is slowly bringing under control. But the recent killing of eight UN peacekeepers in the neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo by LRA rebels belies that claim.
Archbishop Odama called upon the United Nations to prevail upon the warring factions to bring them into dialogue. He asked that the UN serve as mediator to bring about a lasting cease-fire, monitor claims of human rights violations, and oversee the reconciliation process and steps toward keeping a peace. He also asked that the UN establish a “Peace Corridor,” not only to be able to enforce peace agreements, but also to enable humanitarian agencies to reach the civilian population.