Cablegate: Kony Fails to Meet Northern Ugandan Leaders

VZCZCXRO4081
RR RUEHGI RUEHRN RUEHROV
DE RUEHKM #0647 1351232
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 141232Z MAY 08
FM AMEMBASSY KAMPALA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0311
INFO RUEHKH/AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM 0716
RUCNIAD/IGAD COLLECTIVE
RUEHXR/RWANDA COLLECTIVE
RUEHGI/AMEMBASSY BANGUI 0015
RUEHTO/AMEMBASSY MAPUTO 0489
RUEHSA/AMEMBASSY PRETORIA 3459

UNCLAS KAMPALA 000647

SENSITIVE

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREF PREL MOPS UG SU CG CT
SUBJECT: KONY FAILS TO MEET NORTHERN UGANDAN LEADERS

1. (SBU) Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) leader Joseph Kony failed to
meet with his negotiating team and northern Ugandan religious
leaders and elders at Rikwangba, which had been set originally for
May 10. Kony did not show up on May 10 reportedly due to the LRA's
own internal meetings in Garamba National Park. The northern
leaders were assured by LRA negotiating team leader, James Obita,
that Kony would arrive at Rikwangba on May 11. He failed to
materialize. Beginning May 11, all communications between the LRA
in the field and the LRA delegation ceased, even at the lowest
levels.

2. (SBU) The northern leaders, LRA negotiating team, and GOU were
trying to piece together the series of events and telephone
conversations to determine what happened. The northern leaders were
furious, according to Warner Tan Kate, political advisor to U.N.
Special Envoy for LRA-Affected Areas Chissano. They departed
Nabanga, which had no water supply, for Juba on May 14. On May 15,
some of the delegates may meet with Government of Southern Sudan
mediator Riek Machar to discuss the next steps. Post will continue
to follow the situation closely.
BROWNING

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