Sudan President Bashir for Kampala Summit

By Frank Nyakairu, The Monitor (Kampala)

KAMPALA, Oct. 17, 2003 — Sudanese President Omar el-Bashir is expected in Kampala this month. He is among the seven heads of state expected to attend the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development meeting in Kampala on October 20-27.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr Julius Onen, told The Monitor on Wednesday that Bashir and the other presidents arrive in the country on October 23.

Other leaders expected to attend include Prime Minister Meles Zenawi of Ethiopia, President Isaias Afewerki of Eritrea, President Abdulkassim Salat Hassan of Somalia, Ismael Omar Guelleh of Djibouti and President Mwai Kibaki of Kenya.

Mozambican President Joaquim Chissano is also expected in Kampala in his capacity as head of the African Union.

The summit will focus on Somalia and the ongoing Sudanese peace process plus food security in the region, says a document from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The recent diplomatic row between Kampala and Khartoum over the Lord’s Resistance Army rebels is also expected to take centre stage.

IGAD’s mission is to achieve regional co-operation and economic integration through promotion of food security, sustainable environmental management, peace and security, intra-regional trade and development of improved communications infrastructure.