UN ENVOY MEETS WITH LRA CHIEF KONY; PEACE TALKS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 KHARTOUM 000351 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR AF A/S FRAZER AND AF/SE NATSIOS, NSC FOR PITTMAN AND SHORTLEY E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/05/2017 TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR SU SUBJECT: UN ENVOY MEETS WITH LRA CHIEF KONY; PEACE TALKS MAY RESUME REF: A. KHARTOUM 340 ¶B. KHARTOUM 163 Classified By: POL/ECON Nathan Holt: Reason: Section 1.4 (b) and (d) -------------- Summary -------------- ¶1. (C) Former Mozambique President Joaquim Chissano met with Ugandan rebel leader Joseph Kony March 2 in remote northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC),according to sources in the Government of Southern Sudan (GOSS). Chissano, the UN special envoy for the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) problem, also reportedly held whirlwind consultations in Juba, Nairobi, Kinshasa, and Kampala during the last ten days. These consultations appeared to set the stage for a resumption of stalled peace talks between the Government of Uganda (GOU) and the LRA. GOSS Vice President Riek Machar, chief mediator in peace process, told us he expected talks would resume March 12. A conference of ethnic Acholi leaders from Uganda, Sudan and the diaspora ended in Juba with a unanimous call for resumption of the peace talks. Both Machar and Acholi chief David Acana II, however, said Kampala's consent is still required before negotiations resume. End Summary. -------------- Chissano Meets Kony, Regional Leaders -------------- ¶2. (C) Chissano met Kony and LRA second-in-command Vincent Otti near Kony's redoubt in the DRC's Garamba National Park on March 2, according to GOSS VP Machar. Although the meeting point was apparently close to the designated LRA assembly point on the Sudan side of the Sudan/DRC border, there appears to have been little or no facilitation by southern Sudanese authorities. Ugandan local government leader Norbert Mao, present in Juba for a conference of ethnic Acholi leaders, told PolOff he spoke to Otti March 3 and that Otti confirmed the meeting with Chissano. The LRA is ready to resume talks in Juba, Otti reportedly told Chissano, reversing the public position of LRA negotiators since mid-January. Otti was otherwise circumspect, saying he would leave it to Chissano to make details of their conversation public. ¶3. (C) Chissano flew to Juba March 3 for four hours of consultations with GOSS President Salva Kiir, GOSS VP Machar, and senior Acholi Chief David Acana II. Machar said Chissano had promised to push for AU engagement in the stalled peace process, including the assignment of AU personnel to the Cessation of Hostilities Monitoring Team (CHMT). Machar also told the CG that there is now an agreement that Tanzania, Mozambique, South Africa and Kenya will provide observers should peace talks resume. After his meeting with the former Mozambique president, Acana told PolOff that Chissano believes the LRA is willing to resume peace talks. Acana also confirmed that Chissano had met with DRC President Joseph Kabila prior to traveling to Juba. After Juba, according to Machar, Chissano departed late in the day on March 3 for a meeting with Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni in Kampala. Although Chissano's precise itinerary is unknown, a Ugandan journalist covering the peace process told us Chissano started out in Nairobi in mid- to late February, then flew to Kinshasa, Bunia, Garamba, Bunia, Kampala, Juba, and back to Kampala. -------------- Machar Cautious on Talks -------------- ¶4. (C) In public remarks March 4 to close the Juba conference of ethnic Acholi leaders, VP Machar said only that "if" talks resume, GOSS will provide enhanced security and other measures recommended by the conference. Privately, Machar told the CG he expects the LRA delegation will return to Juba on March 7, and sketched a tentative timetable leading to resumption of talks. Machar said he plans to meet with LRA leadership at the Ri-Kwangba assembly point on the Sudan/DRC border on March 9, and that Chissano is expected back in Juba March 10. Peace talks could then resume on March 12. Without specifying, however, Machar said this timetable is dependant on further consultations in Kampala. Acholi leader Acana also told us privately that there is "another step" that must be taken in Uganda before talks resume. ¶5. (C) In his conversation with the CG, Machar also alluded to the pressures he is under from the southern Sudanese KHARTOUM 00000351 002 OF 003 civilian population and from colleagues in the GOSS to deliver a solution to the LRA problem. As if to illustrate these difficulties, word reached Juba late in the day March 4 of a suspected LRA road attack east of the Nile in which three persons were reported killed. The reported attack followed weeks of insecurity on both sides of the Nile in southern Sudan's vast Equatoria region, including an LRA attack on an SPLA unit on the border between Sudan and CAR (Ref. A). -------------- Acholi Meeting Successful -------------- ¶6. (C) Machar was visibly buoyed by the successful conclusion of the Acholi conference. Although LRA delegates had been invited to the conference, none turned up. An impressive cross-section of political, religious and cultural leaders from Uganda, Sudan and the Acholi diaspora did appear. The often fractious group adopted a unanimous resolution calling for peace talks to resume, and for Juba to remain the venue. The text of the conference resolution appears below. -------------- International Support for Peace Process -------------- ¶7. (C) Saying the situation is still "very fragile," Machar has worked hard to drum up international support for the peace process. He was delighted with the Department's February 1 public statement urging that the talks remain in Juba (Ref. B). In his March 4 meeting with the CG, Machar emphasized that 14 nations have contributed to the UN-administered Juba Initiative Fund, which is supplementing the $2 million GOSS says it has spent so far on the talks. Three European countries and the Government of Uganda are contributing towards humanitarian assistance for LRA captives and combatants at designated assembly points. And "two or three countries" (we know of Canada and Denmark) are supporting the work of the Cessation of Hostilities Monitoring Teams. -------------- Text of Acholi Peace Conference Resolution -------------- ¶8. (U) Begin Text. Acholi Peace Conference in Juba, Southern Sudan. We, the Acholi people duly invited by His Royal Highness, The Lawii Rwodi, Rwot David Onen Acana II and assembled in Juba from March 1-4, 2007 to review the Juba peace process to resolve the conflict in Northern Uganda; Recognizing the vision of the late Dr. John Garang, which has resulted in the Juba peace process between the Government of Uganda and the Lord's Resistance Army; Appreciative of the magnanimity of the Government of the Republic of Sudan and the Government of Southern Sudan; The commitment and dedication of the First Vice President of the Republic of Sudan and President of the Government of Southern Sudan, H.E. General Salva Kiir Mayardit; and the Vice President of Southern Sudan H.E. Lt. Gen. Dr. Riek Machar Teny-Dhurgon; and the sacrifice of the people of Southern Sudan in the pursuit of peace in Northern Uganda and Southern Sudan; Commending the Government of Uganda and the LRA for pursuing a negotiated settlement to the conflict; Cognisant of the role and contribution of the United Nations and International Community to the Juba peace process; Recognizing and appreciating the relative peace that is prevailing in Northern Uganda as a result of the Juba peace process; But gravely concerned with the delayed resumption of the Peace Talks; and having reviewed and considered all the issues and concerns raised by the LRA with regard to the Juba Peace process; Now, therefore, we recommend that: ¶1. The Government of Uganda and The Lord's Resistance Army do immediately resume and continue with the Peace Talks. KHARTOUM 00000351 003 OF 003 ¶2. Juba continues as the venue for the Peace Talks. ¶3. The Government of Uganda and the Lord's Resistance Army continue to uphold the spirit of Cessation of Hostilities Agreement; ¶4. The Government of the Republic of Sudan and the Government of Southern Sudan should reassure the participants in the Juba Peace Talks of their security. ¶5. The Cessation of Hostilities Monitoring Team be fully constituted and made more effective. ¶6. The Government of Southern Sudan remains the Chief Mediator and, in consultation wih the two parties, should invite countries with experience to strengthen the mediation team. ¶7. The Chief Mediator should define the roles and responsibilities of NGOs, groups and individuals invited to facilitate, observe or participate in the Peace Talks. ¶8. The Chief Mediator should ensure equitable participation of women and other interest groups in the Peace Talks. ¶9. The capacity of parties involved in the peace process should be enhanced through training and technical assistance. ¶10. The United Nations, African Union, Inter Governmental Authority on Development and the East African Community enhance their presence at the Peace Talks. ¶11. The Secretariat be strengthened and staffed with competent, professional and accountable personnel to provide effective and equitable services and equal treatment to the parties. -------------- Comment -------------- ¶9. (C) Despite these promising developments, there is still no assurance that talks will resume, or that if they resume, the LRA will negotiate an end to their long and grisly war. We nevertheless recommend that the Department continue to express support for the process. End comment. POWERS