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Ugandan rebels and government in ceasefire deal

Ugandan rebels and the government have signed a ceasefire agreement in the latest step toward ending an insurgency that has lasted more than two decades.

  • Agencies
  • Published: 13:07 February 24, 2008
  • Gulf News

Kampala: Ugandan rebels and the government have signed a ceasefire agreement in the latest step toward ending an insurgency that has lasted more than two decades.

The Ugandan conflict has been one of Africa's longest, sparked by a 1986 rebellion in the north when President Yoweri Museveni took power.

The two sides have largely adhered to a cessation of hostilities agreed upon in August 2006, a month after peace talks began, though there have been sporadic outbreaks of fighting. The formal ceasefire was signed on Saturday.

Chris Magezi, a spokesman for the government team, said "We are now moving towards the signing of the final peace agreement."

The ceasefire is set to take effect 24 hours after the signing of the final peace deal, which government negotiators expect by February 29.

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