There are reports that Ugandan rebel leaderJoseph Kony is about to sign a peace deal with the government to end the20-year rebellion in the north. Kony is the leader of the Lords Resistance Army(LRA). The group refused to sign the peace agreement in April because ofinternational arrest warrants against him.
Major Paddy Ankunda, thespokesperson of the Uganda Peoples Defense Forces, told VOA English to Africa reporter Douglas Mpuga that he hopes that thistime Kony will keep his word and sign the peace agreement.
"Well, we do not knowwhether it's for real," he said, "but we hope it is. He (Kony) has said thatbefore and never turned up for the signing. But if he turns up this time, thatis what we have always looked forward to."
He said members of theUgandan peace delegation are preparing to go for the signing and hope the LRAand Kony will turn up. "But if they don't we will not be surprised. It's notthe first time he has promised to sign the agreement only to fail to show up."
Regarding the InternationalCriminal Court (ICC) indictments and arrest warrants for LRA leaders, MajAnkunda said that only when Kony signs the peace agreement will the Ugandangovernment engage the United Nations and the ICC to try to lift theindictments.
He noted that he thinks therebel leader is beginning to realize that he (Kony) can only find safety insigning a peace agreement. "And this is what we have told him all along," hesaid.
Ankunda revealed that if theagreement is signed, the next step will be the implementation of the provisionsof the agreement, including assembling the rebels and the entire process ofdemobilization, disarmament and reintegration.
He said the Ugandan delegationwill be leaving this Friday for the signing ceremony scheduled to take place atRi-Kwangba in Southern Sudan.