Friends For Peace In Africa

The Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) leader, Joseph Kony last evening dismissed his lead peace negotiator Martin Ojul with three others accusing them of "making money from the peace talks."

Kony announced his decision while addressing 11 of negotiators via a satellite teleconference in the provincial Southern Sudanese city of Juba.

"The Chairman of the LRA has, with disgrace dismissed Mr Martin Ojul - the leader of the LRA peace team and the spokesman Mr. Geoffrey Ayoo who he accuses of making money from the peace process and intentionally delaying it," the head of the LRA peace team, Dr David Matsanga told Daily Monitor in a satellite phone interview.

Daily Monitor could not reach Ojul last evening but was reportedly still in Juba. Matsanga said Kony had cleared only eight people to negotiate on his behalf in an 18-month peace process seen as the best chance to end the 20-year war in northern Uganda.

It is not yet clear how Kony’s move will affect the peace talks. Two weeks ago, Sunday Monitor broke a story exposing President Yoweri Museven's $200,000 (Shs350m) gift to Kony’s negotiators, a move that reportedly angered Kony.

President Museveni gave Kony until January 31 to sign a deal.  Kony's eight negotiators include; Matsanga, James Obita, Krispers Ayena, Justine Labeja, Santa Okot , Yusuf Adek Willy Oryem and Wilson Owiny.