War on Terror Motivates Peace in Africa

Following 9/11, international pressure against the Government of Sudan (GOS) mounted and was intensified with the revelation of genocide in Dafur and the nation's general support of terrorism, including hosting militant Islamists such as Osama bin Laden.

The GOS now is close to signing a peace agreement with the Sudan People’s Liberation Army/Movement, which governs the southern Sudan region occupied by animists and Christians. Since war began in 1983, more than 2 million people have died, approximately 628,000 Sudanese have sought refuge in neighboring countries, and more than 4 million people have been displaced, creating the largest internally displaced person (IDP) population in the world [ReliefWeb]. During the conflict, the action by the GOS against civilian targets, notably churches, schools and hospitals, characterizes the regimes consistent record of human rights violations.

The second recent development is a dramatic change in both the perception and actions of the Lord’s Resistance Army of Uganda. Led by Joseph Kony, this terrorist organization has killed more people than Al Qaeda, Hamas, and Hizbullah combined [Christian Science Monitor]. The LRA routinely targets civilians, slicing off the lips and ears of their victims. In particular, the group has abducted over 30,000 children and has terrorized them into slavery as guards, concubines, and soldiers. Most of the young LRA guerrillas carrying out these violent acts and raids in Uganda are former abductees themselves and, without child abductions, the LRA would have few combatants. [Global Security]

Previously, the LRA relied on the GOS to provide financial support and a based of operations in Sudan where Uganda’s military could not penetrate. Kony’s thugs received support because he was a thorn in the side of the SPLA and he opposed the government of Uganda, which held a favorable relationship with the SPLA. This enabled the LRA to launch attacks in Uganda and then retreat into Sudan, where Uganda's military couldn't reach them.

As a GOS surrogate, the LRA often jeopardized humanitarian relief efforts by cutting of the supply-line and ambushing mission vehicles en-route to Southern Sudan. [Frontline Fellowship]

However, the war aganst terrorism changed Sudan's willingness to support Kony and led to the current cease-fire negotiations that many hope will end the 18-year war. The Scotsman Reports:

Jim Fisher-Thompson, writing for the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of International, describes the change in events leading to this momentous agreement through the words of Uganda Minister of Defense, Amama Mbabazi:

The war on terror is having a beneficial influence on world peace and, in this case, without significant direct effort or expense. The imminent peace agreement in Sudan and a potential cease-fire in Uganda represent outcomes that can be directly attributed to the efforts of the United States and the international community against terrorism.

Of course, this does not mean peace is certain or lasting. Having seen photographs of the carnage against civilians perpetrated by the LRA I’m heartened that the group has been weakened and is amenable to a cease-fire. However, true and long lasting peace demands that those who committed the atrocities against a generation of defenseless victims be brought to justice. The complexity in this situation is that the government of Uganda is not an innocent defender of liberty and justice and has been accused, through the years, of numerous human rights violations [Amnesty International].

In addition, with a ceasefire being violated daily, there appears to be no end in sight to the fighting in the western Sudanese region of Darfur. [more]

Nevertheless, big progress is being made. Today, two agreements will likely be signed that will lead to the end of decade long conflicts! Amid tragedy in Asia resulting from the tsunami and the ongoing conflict in Iraq, the indigenous people and governments of Sudan and Uganda are moving toward peace.