The Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) rebel group in Uganda has threatened a return to war if the International Criminal Court’s indictments against the top leaders are not withdrawn by the end of peace talks. This has been a long controversy between the government of Uganda and the rebel leaders, who have been in hiding in the DR Congo since the indictments were issued. The LRA waged a lengthy and savage campaign against the government and civilians in northern Uganda for two decades, resulting in the displacement of almost two million civilians and the deaths of thousands. The ICC has indicted the top five LRA leaders for crimes against humanity, but none have so far been arrested. One of the leaders was killed by the Ugandan army in battle, however the remaining four continue to hide.
The government has agreed to issue pardons to LRA members who surrender, however they have continued to refuse to do so for high-ranking officers. The government has indicted a willingness to persuade the ICC to drop the indictments if the leaders take full responsibility for the crimes committed against civilians through traditional justice. However, the rebels continue to refuse to accept anything less than lifting the indictments beforehand.
For more information, please see:
All Africa – Otti Threatens War Over Warrants – 26 May 2007
Reuters –http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/IRIN/a08a28c1c879b4da6de68dbc5e0 – May 2007
IRIN – Museveni Gives Rebels Ultimatum Over Northern War – 17 May 2006
