Last week the peace talks between the Ugandan government and the Lord’s Resistance Army began again in Juba, Southern Sudan. These talks are the closest the Acholi people have been in over 20 years to finding peace, and last week marks a significant renewal of commitment to their positive conclusion, and to peace for a hurting people.
A friend of mine was recently in Juba to observe the talks. He brings good news. He says that rhetoric between the two negotiating sides has softened considerably since the talks began last year. And whereas they once required separate tables for meals, they now eat and talk together.
Most importantly, both sides are confident that a comprehensive peace agreement will be signed within the next month!
There is a faint but brightening glow of peace on the horizon. We’ll keep you updated.
Filed under: News on February 5th, 2008 | No Comments »
The secretive leader of the Lord’s Resistance Army, Joseph Kony, said yesterday on a northern Uganda radio station that he is ready and waiting to sign a final peace agreement. This is a very positive step. Kony had been silent since the LRA’s second in command and chief communicator, Vincent Otti, was executed by Kony last November.
By calling for a peace agreement now, Kony may be trying to avoid a military offensive threatened by the Ugandan government in conjunction with the Democratic Republic of Congo. The two governments agreed earlier this month that if progress was not made on the peace talks by January 31, they would coordinate to flush the LRA out of their secluded base in the jungles of Congo.
To ensure that all parties involved refrain from dangerous military action that could further devastate northern Uganda and the Acholi people, please go to the Resolve Uganda site and send an email to your Congressperson.
Filed under: News on January 23rd, 2008 | No Comments »
WAR/DANCE, an inspiring film about children affected by the war in northern Uganda, is nominated for the Best Documentary Oscar! We hope that this publicity will lead to an influx of interest and involvement in northern Uganda, and in the ongoing story of the Acholi people.
Filed under: News on January 22nd, 2008 | No Comments »
As requested by many of our supporters, Acholi Beads will be hosting an open house to show of our new inventory that has recently arrived from Kampala. We invite you to come and learn about our socially proactive business and meet our new beadmakers. This is a great opportunity to finish your last minute Christmas shopping!
When: Friday Decemeber 21st, 5pm to 8pm
Where: 238 Santa Fe Ave. Shell Beach, CA.
Contact: Jessica Connolly acholibeads@gmail.com
Filed under: Events on December 20th, 2007 | No Comments »
Due to the growth of our business over the last couple months Acholi Beads has been able to hire three new bead makers, and promote one bead maker to a full time production management position. Increasing our production staff this soon after the founding of the business is extremely exciting, and a sign of great things to come.
Yesterday I was in Acholi Quarter buying beads and taking photos of each of our bead makers. The photos will be up ASAP; in the meantime, a preview: meet Gladys (right), a 26-year-old mother of three who fled her home in the north in 2004 to escape the war.
Filed under: Announcements on December 6th, 2007 | No Comments »
Speaking with Voice of America, a senior consultant to the LRA said that the International Criminal Court’s warrants against Joseph Kony and three other top LRA leadership are the rebel group’s biggest obstacle to successfully concluding the ongoing peace talks.
The International Criminal Court, or ICC, is a fledging organization charged with prosecuting violators of international law - including perpetrators of war crimes and crimes against humanity. It’s first-ever arrest warrants were issued two years ago against five LRA leaders, one of whom has since died. Those warrants have played a pivotal role in the search for peace in northern Uganda.
Kony and other LRA leaders fear that if they surrender as terms of the peace deal, they will be prosecuted by the ICC. Although the ICC’s mandate allows for local justice systems to supersede its own prosecutions, if those local mechanisms do not meet certain standards of justice the ICC reserves the right to step in. So even if the warranted leaders are put through some sort of justice process in Uganda, whether formal or traditional, as long as the warrants are in place the ICC can step in at any time to prosecute them from The Hague.
LRA leadership maintains that it will not sign a peace agreement until the warrants are withdrawn, and the ICC prosecutor maintains that the warrants must remain in place.
Filed under: News on November 14th, 2007 | No Comments »
It’s said here in northern Uganda that everyone has lost someone to the war. I just stumbled upon this story from the BBC from May of this year. It has a great graphic of an actual village, highlighting the pervasiveness of the devastation there. And that village was chosen not because it was exceptional in its loss, but because it was average.
Story and graphic here.
Filed under: News on October 31st, 2007 | No Comments »
For the first time since the beginning of the war in northern Uganda in 1986, leaders of the Lord’s Resistance Army have agreed to meet with Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni. The historic meeting will begin tomorrow, November 1st, and will pave the way for the LRA to hold nationwide community consultations aimed at finding a strategy to achieve lasting peace.
The LRA’s reclusive leader, Joseph Kony, has refused to leave his base in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s Garamba National Park until the the International Criminal Court drops its arrest warrants against him. In his place, the LRA’s chief negotiator will attend the meeting.
More at the BBC
Filed under: News on October 31st, 2007 | No Comments »
Yesterday, Tuesday October 30th, President Bush held a White House summit with Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni. It is reported that the two leaders discussed the importance of the successful peace talks, though in a press conference after the meeting the peace process was not mentioned.
The U.S. is a major donor to Uganda, giving the country hundreds of millions dollars each year. President Bush has asked for increased funding in 2008, underlining Uganda’s strategic importance to the U.S. as a buffer to Islamic Sudan and a possible source of oil.
More at UgandaCAN
Filed under: Uncategorized on October 31st, 2007 | No Comments »
According to a South African news site, a UN official has confirmed that the $7.7 million budget for the stalled peace talks between the LRA and the government of Uganda has been raised by international donors. This is a major step towards moving the peace talks forward.
However there remain major impediments to the talks recommencing. The LRA has made its continued involvement contingent on $800,000 to fund public consultations, only $600,000 of which has been raised. Moreover, with the recent news of infighting at the LRA base in DR Congo it is not known if or when the LRA will be prepared to continue the talks.
Stay tuned.
Filed under: News on October 28th, 2007 | No Comments »
