![[Uganda] Joseph Kony, leader of the Ugandan rebel group, the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA). [Date picture taken: May 2006]](https://assets.thenewhumanitarian.org/s3fs-public/styles/responsive_large_2x/public/images/20065302.jpg.webp?itok=Kq6hmZ33 "The US has called on Joseph Kony, leader of the LRA, to sign and adhere to the Final Peace Agreement (FPA)")
A senior commander of the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) says peace talks with the Ugandan government could fail if the International Criminal Court (ICC) does not lift indictments against five rebel leaders wanted for crimes against humanity.
"The ICC must revoke the indictment," said Vincent Otti, the LRA's second in command, who, with the group’s leader, Joseph Kony, and three other commanders, is wanted by the ICC.
The Ugandan army halted operations against the LRA on 29 August, three days after a truce Took effect. Scores of rebels are reported to be leaving their northern Uganda hideouts, raising hopes that the insurgency may dimish.
Under the terms of the truce, the Ugandan government has pledged to guarantee the rebels, safe passage to two assembly points in southern Sudan and northern Uganda by 12 September.
Speaking on a Kampala-based radio late on Tuesday, Otti said LRA fighters could be forced to remain in the bush if the ICC warrants of arrest against their leaders were not cancelled. "If Kony or Otti [do] not come out, no other rebel will come out," he said.
The LRA is blamed for atrocities against civilians during two decades of a violent insurrection in northern Uganda, with thousands of people killed and some two million, displaced.
Otti said that although he hoped the peace talks would succeed, his group was still capable of waging war if agreement was not reached. "Being in Ri-Kwangba [one of the assembly points] does not mean I am out," he said.
The Ugandan government has offered amnesty to the rebels and promised to ask the ICC to drop the indictments in favour of a traditional justice and reconciliation system. On Friday, however, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni also said the indictments should remain in place until the LRA abandoned what he called its "criminal ways".
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"The ICC must revoke the indictment," said Vincent Otti, the LRA's second in command, who, with the group’s leader, Joseph Kony, and three other commanders, is wanted by the ICC.
The Ugandan army halted operations against the LRA on 29 August, three days after a truce Took effect. Scores of rebels are reported to be leaving their northern Uganda hideouts, raising hopes that the insurgency may dimish.
Under the terms of the truce, the Ugandan government has pledged to guarantee the rebels, safe passage to two assembly points in southern Sudan and northern Uganda by 12 September.
Speaking on a Kampala-based radio late on Tuesday, Otti said LRA fighters could be forced to remain in the bush if the ICC warrants of arrest against their leaders were not cancelled. "If Kony or Otti [do] not come out, no other rebel will come out," he said.
The LRA is blamed for atrocities against civilians during two decades of a violent insurrection in northern Uganda, with thousands of people killed and some two million, displaced.
Otti said that although he hoped the peace talks would succeed, his group was still capable of waging war if agreement was not reached. "Being in Ri-Kwangba [one of the assembly points] does not mean I am out," he said.
The Ugandan government has offered amnesty to the rebels and promised to ask the ICC to drop the indictments in favour of a traditional justice and reconciliation system. On Friday, however, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni also said the indictments should remain in place until the LRA abandoned what he called its "criminal ways".
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This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions
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