Machar to Meet Kony Tomorrow

Source:New Vision-Uganda

THE chief mediator in the peace talks, South Sudan's Vice-President Riek Machar, is to meet LRA leader Joseph Kony in Ri-Kwangba tomorrow, according to Government sources.

Defence state minister Ruth Nankabirwa told the defence and internal affairs committee yesterday that the Government was awaiting the result of the meeting to determine its next course of action.

"We are waiting for the outcome of that meeting. The Government decided that Kony be given another chance. He raised issues which he wants a team of experts to explain to him."

Nankabirwa, who was flanked by defence minister Crispus Kiyonga, was responding to a question by Lt. Jessica Alupo (Katakwi) on the way forward for the Juba peace process.

"The ceasefire agreement has not been extended and the current situation is based on a gentleman's agreement and goodwill of the Government. The sooner Kony meets Machar the better," she added.

On April 10, Kony failed to turn up at Ri-Kwangba to sign the final peace agreement with the Government.

He said he needed more information on the traditional justice system, the special division of the High Court to be set up in Kampala and the ICC.

Kiyonga attacked the UN mission in Congo, MONUC, for failing to fulfil its mandate. He accused MONUC of engaging in illegal trade in minerals, as well as arming and training negative elements in eastern Congo.

"They have the capacity and the resources to flush out the negative elements but they give excuses that the forces hide in the forests. The Congo issue is something the UPDF can handle. The problem is that they are not allowing us."

He warned that the Government would take the matter to the UN Security Council. "We shall take any route that leads us to total peace."

On the Allied Democratic Forces rebels operating from eastern Congo, he said the Government had received information that they were ready to talk.