Government Agrees to Ceasefire

Breaking News: Quite unexpectedly, the government of Uganda, under President Museveni has agreed to a formal cessation of hostilities as the peace teams from both sides, the LRA and the UPDF/NRM come to the table to work out a comprehensive peace agreement to bring an end to the 21 year conflict in northern Uganda. This is a major step forward and provides a major breakthrough in the ongoing peace negotiations that began in mid-July. I'm not sure what spurred the government to change its hardline stance against the LRA - only last week Museveni had gone on record to declare that a ceasefire would be unworkable and was unnecessary since there was no 'frontline' to the war; but he seems to have changed his position and attitude dramatically since then.

Somehow I wonder if international scrutiny and the media coverage of this event has played a major role in this regard. While some argue that the international community should stay out - esp. with regard to the ICC - my sense is that international pressure has actually forced the two sides of the conflict to come to the table and placed additional pressure on the parties to come to a compromise. I hope people will continue to pray that lasting peace results from these fragile talks. Many lives are depending on it.

In my discussions with civilians living in the North, there were two things that people agreed were top on their list of hopes for their future: lasting peace; that is, an end to war and violence, and the opportunity to return to their homes in safety. The realization of these hopes seems like more a possibility than ever before. I'm thankful that more and more people abroad are paying attention to what UN OCHA head, Jan Egeland once referred to as "the world's most neglected humanitarian crisis."

What this means, friends, is that it matters that we are paying attention to people and situations that others may have ignored; and it matters evern more that we care. Those two things alone can make a difference in the lives of others; and what a tremendous source of hope that is.