To underscore the urgency of ending northern Uganda’s 21-year war, a U.S. congressman encourages fellow House members to read this newly published text.

July 3, 2007

The U.S. House of Representatives unanimously approved Resolution H. Con. Res. 80, recommitting the United States to support a political solution ending the brutal, 21-year conflict in northern Uganda.

For years, World Vision has advocated for this, particularly focused on bringing an end to the diabolical practices of Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) leader Joseph Kony, who has created his rebel army primarily through "the violent abduction, forced enlistment, manipulation and destruction of children," says Rory Anderson, World Vision's Africa policy advisor.

Among the approximately 30,000 youth abducted by the LRA is former child soldier Grace Akallo, now a World Vision spokesperson. Her testimony at previous congressional hearings on northern Uganda's endangered children was recalled during the debate that led up to the adopted resolution.

'There is Hope'

Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J., cited Akallo as a noteworthy witness during her previous attendance at congressional hearings. He also mentioned the newly released book "Girl Soldier: A Story of Hope for Northern Uganda's Children," co-authored by Akallo and Faith McDonnell, which recounts Akallo's harrowing experience. Smith urged his colleagues to read it to better understand the tragic nature of this prolonged conflict — particularly its affect on children. (See full comments here.)

In addition to representing the hardships of child soldiers, the congressman said that Akallo's story also demonstrates hope in "the resiliency of the human spirit," and he called on members to pray for Akallo and her friends.

Akallo, who now resides in the United States and is a graduate of Gordon College near Boston, is an outspoken advocate for peace in northern Uganda.

Official U.S. Presence Needed

Says Rep. Hank Johnson, D-Ga., who introduced the bipartisan resolution: "My aim was just simply that we should make sure that we passed something in the House. Our measure encourages the Bush administration to dedicate some resources to help solve this matter diplomatically."

Johnson adds the administration should appoint its own diplomatic representative to help the two sides reach agreement. World Vision supports this proposal, and is concerned that a U.S. presence at the negotiating table is noticeably absent.

"We are at a crossroads between peace and the status quo of conflict and crisis," says Anderson. "U.S. diplomatic support for the Juba Peace Talks will help all parties take the road to peace and regional stability."

World Vision and other nongovernmental organizations played a significant role in crafting the language and collecting signatures for a letter that was recently sent from Congress to the president (pdf). Such a letter helps keep human rights issues — which otherwise receive little attention from the press — before key policymakers and implementers.

Rebuilding Will Take Years

On-and-off negotiations between Uganda and LRA rebels started in July 2006.

Two primary issues have caused the talks to stall:

• Differences over logistics for mediating the talks, and
• Whether to grant amnesty to LRA rebels who have committed war crimes — specifically, taking into consideration the outstanding International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrants for LRA leaders.

However, it has recently been reported that Uganda's government and the LRA have signed an agreement on how to deal with war crimes. The signing is considered a major development.

Ongoing violence has tormented the people of northern Uganda for two decades. Besides the estimated 30,000 children who have been abducted, thousands of civilians have been slaughtered or maimed, and more than 1.4 million people have been displaced.

An estimated 300,000 displaced people have returned home. Yet there are still more than 1 million people remaining in displacement camps.

According to a recent BBC report, it will take up to four years to rebuild northern Uganda, even if peace talks bring swift resolution to the crisis.