Hema, Lendu peace deal flops in Arua
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The Monitor (Kampala)
January 1, 2003
Posted to the web January 2, 2003
By Frank Nyakairu, Kefa Atibuni and Tabu Butagira
Kampala
Hema leaders on Tuesday refused to sign a peace deal with the Lendu after
days of negotiations in Arua.
Lt. Gen. Salim Saleh, commander of Uganda's Reserve Forces, initiated the
talks. Also involved was Uganda's Gender minister Bakoko Bakoru.
The Hema were represented by Union Patriotic Congolese (UPC/RP), the Lendu by
Front de Nationalities et Des Intergrationalites (FNI). Floribat Ndjobu the
FNI chairman signed a cease-fire agreement but the Hema led by Djalum
Owek-Nyinga refused.
They said they were yet to contact their president, Thomas Lubanga.
The talks were held at Arua State Lodge.
The Lendu constitute more than 70 percent of the population in Ituri while
the Hema, who are in control, are one of the minority ethnic groups.
"I am totally disappointed [but] still hope that they [UPC/PR] will sign the
cease-fire agreement," Saleh said.
Meanwhile, reports from the troubled Ituri Province indicated that as the
peace plan was being mapped out in Arua, inter-ethnic clashes continued.
