Resolve

Plans for the LRA and Ugandan government to begin consultations with northern civil society on reconciliation and accountability, agenda item 3 of the Juba peace talks, are slowly developing. In June the two sides announced a break in the negotiations to hold the consultations after signing a framework agreement on agenda item 3 that called for a combination of traditional and formal justice mechanisms to be developed. Shortages of funding have slowed the consultation process, but the leader of the Ugandan government delegation announced last week that the government will begin consultations with northern civil society this week. In late July the LRA delegation demanded $2 million to facilitate meetings with northern civil society and consultative trips abroad to countries that have dealt with post-conflict justice issues, but donors rejected their request. However, donors have recently offered the LRA team $600,000 to conduct consultations, and chief mediator Riek Machar has offered to work with the LRA to revise their plans.