U.S. Position on LRA Amnesty

The U.S. Government recognizes that the initiative of the Government of Southern Sudan (GOSS) to broker peace talks between the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) and the Government of Uganda is based on the hope that these talks will put an end to the LRA insurgency that has been ongoing in northern Uganda for nearly 20 years.  The impetus for the GOSS initiative is the desire to resolve a conflict that has displaced millions and killed thousands and that threatens to destabilize the Comprehensive Peace Agreement in Sudan.

 The United Nations-sponsored International Criminal Court (ICC) indicted the top five LRA leaders for war crimes and crimes against humanity in October 2005.  Countries that are signatories to the Rome Statute establishing the ICC are expected to cooperate in arresting ICC-indicted individuals; Uganda is a signatory to the Rome Statute but the United States is not.

 President Museveni announced that he is willing to extend amnesty to the LRA leader Josephy Kony – and potentially the rest of the LRA leadership as well.  The United States respects Uganda’s decision on this matter, but we believe those who have committed atrocities in this long-standing insurgency should be held accountable for their deeds.