Uganda at a Crossroads
The conflict in northern Uganda is at a critical turning point between peace and a renewed descent into chaos and war. After nearly twenty years of brutal, inconclusive fighting, the Government of Uganda (GoU) and Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) are now engaged in peace talks in Juba, South Sudan. Fragile from the start, these talks still represent the best chance for peace in many years. They are now teetering on the verge of collapse. Their failure and a return to fighting would be a disaster for both the long-suffering people of northern Uganda and the region as a whole. The international community, including the US government, can help strengthen the peace and recovery processes in northern Uganda. Based on our experience operating inside Uganda, Mercy Corps offers the following analysis and corresponding recommendations for how best to impact the current situation. These recommendations include:
- Provide strong international support for the Juba peace talks
- Secure the Ugandan government's firm commitment to the Juba talks
- Increase current funding, humanitarian assistance and protection for internally displaced persons (IDPs)
- Increase the general amount and coherence of long-term international assistance
- Affirm the right of displaced people to manage their own return
- Sustain the Ugandan government's investments in the north
- Support strong peace, accountability and reconciliation processes
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