Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06KHARTOUM1942
2006-08-15 04:14:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Khartoum
Cable title:  

LRA Talks Remain in Limbo Due to Ceasefire

Tags:  PREL PGOV MOPS UN UG SU 
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VZCZCXRO0330
PP RUEHROV
DE RUEHKH #1942 2270414
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 150414Z AUG 06
FM AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4156
INFO RUCNIAD/IGAD COLLECTIVE
RUEHROV/AMEMBASSY VATICAN 0025
RUEHNY/AMEMBASSY OSLO 0015
UNCLAS KHARTOUM 001942 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS
SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV MOPS UN UG SU
SUBJECT: LRA Talks Remain in Limbo Due to Ceasefire

Ref: Khartoum 1894

UNCLAS KHARTOUM 001942

SIPDIS

SIPDIS
SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV MOPS UN UG SU
SUBJECT: LRA Talks Remain in Limbo Due to Ceasefire

Ref: Khartoum 1894


1. (SBU) Summary: Although the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) walked
out of talks on August 9, demanding a ceasefire, consultations
between mediators and the parties have continued and talks are
resuming. Observers commented that the walkout was not a serious
threat, only an attempt to gain leverage. GoSS President Salva Kiir
met with the LRA team on August 11 and secured an agreement to
re-engage the Ugandans over ceasefire arrangements. The Ugandan
delegation wants any ceasefire arrangement to include cantonments
where LRA fighters would gather and be counted. The UN has agreed
to provide a legal expert to facilitate discussions on a ceasefire.
Norway is also considering establishing a technical peace
secretariat. The fundamental issue, that the negotiators do not

SIPDIS
truly represent Kony's point of view, has not been resolved. End
Summary.

--------------
Talks Continue in Fits and Starts
--------------


2. (SBU) Both the UN OCHA observers and the mediators from
Sant'Egidio believe that talks will continue because LRA leader
Joseph Kony realizes these talks are his last chance. However, they
warn that LRA threats to walk out will likely remain a regular
fixture of the talks. The current disagreement stems from the
timing of a ceasefire. The LRA has announced a unilateral ceasefire
and asked the government of Uganda to reciprocate. Uganda has
refused, fearing the LRA would use a ceasefire to regroup as it has
done before. The Ugandans have said they will only accept a
ceasefire as part of a final agreement. The Ugandan negotiating
team has pointed out that the September 12 deadline indicates a de
facto ceasefire, but the Ugandan army reserves the right to deal
with the LRA units that have continued to loot villages and steal
food in northern Uganda.


3. (SBU) To break the deadlock, GoSS President Salva Kiir summoned
the LRA on August 11. The LRA delegation then agreed to return to
full talks on August 14 if ceasefire arrangements were the only
agenda item. Over the weekend, mediators continued talks with each
side, and the Ugandan team indicated that it would consider a
ceasefire separately from a final agreement if there were safe-haven
rally points for all LRA fighters to gather at and be counted.
Observers feel it is unlikely that the LRA will agree to this
requirement. The UN is now providing Riek Machar, GoSS Vice
President and head mediator, with a legal expert to advise on the
wording of a ceasefire and provide other technical assistance.

-------------- --------------
Uganda Announces Killing of LRA Leader Raska Lukwiya
-------------- --------------


4. (SBU) The Uganda team announced over the weekend the UPDF had
killed one of the five International Criminal Court indictees, Raska
Lukwiya, who has been looting villages in Northern Uganda. Unlike
the October announcement that another indictee, Dominic Ongwen, was
believed dead, which later turned out to be false, the Ugandans
claim Lukwiya is confirmed dead and has been identified by defected
LRA members. This reinforces the LRA's demand for an immediate
ceasefire, but may not affect long-term prospects for the talks. A
high- ranking UNMIS official said he believes that the continued
military operations in Uganda, the ICC indictments, and the threat
of a Security Council resolution all maintain pressure on Kony to
remain committed.

-------------- --------------
To be Effective, Talks Need to Involve True LRA Leaders
-------------- --------------


5. (SBU) Most observers, and even the mediation team, agree that the
talks will not make much progress until they are led by true
military leaders from the LRA, and not just the Acholi diaspora
calling themselves the Lord's Resistance Movement (LRM). However,
the groups see value in continuing the talks until there is enough
momentum to draw the LRA leaders out of the bush and into the
discussions. Along these lines, the Norwegian Consulate General has
asked Oslo to establish a technical secretariat for the
negotiations. A response from the Ministry of International
Cooperation is expected this week.

HUME