Uganda: UN Humanitarian Chief meets with LRA leadership

(Juba, [South Sudan]: 13 November 2006): United Nations Under-Secretary-General Jan Egeland met yesterday with rebel leader Joseph Kony to discuss a range of humanitarian issues related to non-combatants associated with the rebel group and to advance the peace talks between Kony's Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) and the Government of Uganda.

The meeting took place in Ri-Kwangba, an area close to the border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and one of two locations where the LRA is to assemble according to the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement signed between the Lord's Resistance Army and the Government of Uganda on 26 August 2006. Egeland was encouraged to hold the meeting by both the Government of Uganda and the mediation team, including Riek Machar, Vice-President of South Sudan and Chief Mediator for the peace talks.

During their half-hour meeting, which also included Dr. Machar and members of the Ugandan and LRA negotiation teams, Egeland asked Kony to come up with concrete humanitarian measures concerning the women, children and non-combatants who are currently with Kony's army. Egeland later noted that the LRA leadership had agreed to come back within one month with an answer to this request. The LRA also agreed to identify, by 22 November, those sick and wounded in need of care.

"This is the first time the international community was able to impress upon the senior command of the LRA and their supreme leader the importance of humanitarian issues, including ongoing respect for the cessation of hostilities and the transfer of individuals among the LRA, including women, children and wounded," said Egeland.

Egeland reiterated to Kony the commitment of the United Nations to invest in the peace process, and bring humanitarian aid to the LRA assembly points, including food, medicine, and safe drinking water. "Our aim now is to get aid into these areas," Egeland stressed.

The United Nations has begun to provide humanitarian assistance to the areas affected by LRA violence, while the non-governmental organization Caritas is providing basic services to the LRA assembly areas. The United Nations will provide logistical support to the peace process through the United Nations Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) and will also be observers of the Cessation of Hostilities Monitoring Team.

"If we succeed in this peace effort led by the Government of Southern Sudan and supported by the UN, there is a good chance peace will break out in the region as a whole," concluded Egeland. "Failing to do so may have catastrophic consequences -- not only in Northern Uganda, but also in Southern Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Central African Republic -- for local communities," he added.

Kony, who has been indicted for war crimes by the International Criminal Court, raised the issue of the ICC indictment against him and other senior LRA leaders. In response, Egeland reiterated that he would not speak on behalf of the ICC, which is an independent organization.

Egeland is on his last mission before stepping down as the United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator. Following his meeting Sunday with the LRA leadership, Egeland proceeded today to the capital of Uganda, Kampala, where he is expected to meet with high-level Government officials.