The Ugandan government and Lord’s Resistance Army rebels agreed on Saturday to a truce to end a brutal 19-year conflict that left thousands dead, officials said.The agreement—reached during peace talks held in Juba, in southern Sudan—was expected to take effect when rebel leader Joseph Kony announces a cessation of hostilities, no later than Tuesday, said government spokesman Paddy Ankunda. Until then normal operations would continue.“We have agreed on the issues and put our signatures on the document,” Ankunda said by telephone from Juba about the deal that will bring to an end one of Africa’s longest wars.After the cease-fire announcement, the rebels will have three weeks to gather at assembly points in southern Sudan and northern Uganda where they can be monitored, and will be given food and safe passage, government officials said.The LRA already has declared a cease-fire, but several of its fighters have been killed in recent weeks by Ugandan forces. Salva Kiir, President of South Sudan, the country mediating the peace process, said after closed door talks with Uganda’s President on Friday that should the peace process fail both Ugandan and south Sudanese forces would fight the rebels.
