Ban Ki-moon welcomes ‘breakthrough’ Ugandan agreement with northern rebels
20 February 2008 – Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today welcomed the signing of an agreement by the Ugandan Government
and the rebel Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) to set up accountability and reconciliation measures to help end the conflict
that has ravaged the north of the country for two decades.
“The challenge ahead will be to ensure the credible implementation of this agreement,” Mr. Ban said in a statement
issued by his spokesperson after yesterday’s signing in Juba, southern Sudan, of the Annexure to the Agreement on
Accountability and Reconciliation.
“The Secretary-General is encouraged by the commitment of the parties to the talks and urges them to renew their efforts
to expeditiously conclude a comprehensive peace agreement in order to bring lasting peace with justice to the people of
northern Uganda,” the statement added.
Government forces and the LRA have fought since the mid-1980s and the rebel group has become notorious for its use and
abuse of children, either as soldiers, porters or in other roles, during the long-running conflict. Captured children
were often subject to extreme violence soon after being abducted by the LRA, with many girls allocated to officers in a
form of institutional rape.
But the two sides signed a ceasefire in 2006 and talks have been taking place in recent months to try to reach a
permanent settlement ending the civil conflict.
Today’s statement thanked “all international and regional actors who have been assisting the peace process,” especially
the Vice-President of the Government of Southern Sudan and Chief Mediator, Riek Machar Dhurgon Teny, and Mr. Ban’s
Special Envoy on the issue, former Mozambican president Joaquim Chissano, “for the important role they have played in
facilitating this breakthrough.”
ENDS