More Than Thirty Concerned Organizations Lobby Secretary of State for End to War
A coalition of 34 American religious, humanitarian, and political advocacy organizations have sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, calling for more sustained attention to the war in northern Uganda.
"Establishing a secure environment requires urgent leadership from the U.S. Government to put in place a comprehensive regional approach that addresses LRA cross-border movements and prioritizes a resolution to the conflict, while simultaneously ensuring civilian protection, humanitarian access, and the reintegration of former combatants," reads the two-page document.
The U.S. government is involved in northern Uganda on several levels, offering limited diplomatic support to peace mediator Betty Bigombe, providing humanitarian assistance, sponsoring a reconciliation project called Northern Uganda Peace Initiative, and training Ugandan defense forces in counter-insurgency operations to increase their effectiveness against LRA combatants. These efforts, however, are felt by many civil society groups to pale in comparison to the gravity of the crisis; moreover, the U.S. has been weak in its support for efforts to end the conflict peacefully.
Read the document in its entirety and view the list of endorsing organizations here.
"Establishing a secure environment requires urgent leadership from the U.S. Government to put in place a comprehensive regional approach that addresses LRA cross-border movements and prioritizes a resolution to the conflict, while simultaneously ensuring civilian protection, humanitarian access, and the reintegration of former combatants," reads the two-page document.
The U.S. government is involved in northern Uganda on several levels, offering limited diplomatic support to peace mediator Betty Bigombe, providing humanitarian assistance, sponsoring a reconciliation project called Northern Uganda Peace Initiative, and training Ugandan defense forces in counter-insurgency operations to increase their effectiveness against LRA combatants. These efforts, however, are felt by many civil society groups to pale in comparison to the gravity of the crisis; moreover, the U.S. has been weak in its support for efforts to end the conflict peacefully.
Read the document in its entirety and view the list of endorsing organizations here.