South Sudan president to visit Uganda
March 4, 2008 (KAMPALA) — Sudanese first Vice President and President of southern Sudan government will start a two-day visit to Kampala tomorrow.
Kampala has said it wants the UN Security Council (UNSC) to ask the court based in The Hague to defer its case against LRA leaders and the two sides have also agreed to set up special war crimes courts in Uganda.
But the UNSC has no authority to make such a request to the ICC since it did not refer the case to the world court, according to the Rome Statue which forms the basis to the court.
The Vice President of the Government of Southern Sudan and Chief Mediator of the Ugandan peace talks, Dr. Riek Machar told the two parties to reconvene in Juba on March 12, to put some final touches on implementation schedule of the Final Peace Agreement expected to be signed in Juba by both President Yoweri Museveni of the Republic of Uganda and Joseph Kony of LRA/M.
He said he would travel to Rikwangba Assembly Area at Sudan-Congo border accompanied by Ugandan religious leaders to consult with Joseph Kony to come to Juba for the signing.
According to the ICC, Kony now has allegedly dispatched representatives to try to meet with ICC prosecutor Luis Moreno Ocampo Tuesday, a prospect his office immediately struck down.
“The Prosecutor would like to state that he has not and will not meet with any representative of the LRA,” it said in a statement.
The LRA overture comes amid brightening prospects of ending the insurgency in north Uganda, which has lasted for more than two decades, but the rebels say the ICC warrants are an obstacle to peace.
But even Kampala, a state party to the ICC, is not able to request suspension of arrest warrants according to the Rome Statue, even if it withdraws its ratification.
“A State shall not be discharged, by reason of its withdrawal, from the obligations arising from this Statute while it was a Party to the Statute, including any financial obligations which may have accrued. Its withdrawal shall not affect any cooperation with the Court in connection with criminal investigations and proceedings in relation to which the withdrawing State had a duty to cooperate and which were commenced prior to the date on which the withdrawal became effective, nor shall it prejudice in any way the continued consideration of any matter which was already under consideration by the Court prior to the date on which the withdrawal became effective” the Rome Statue reads.
The ICC issued arrest warrants against five LRA leaders in July 2005 including Kony. The warrants were transmitted to the International Police Organization (INTERPOL). Two of the indicted including Dominic Ongwen and Kony’s deputy Vincent Otti were reported killed.
There has been some calls around the world to drop the arrest warrants for the sake of peace in Northern Uganda.
But the U.S. Embassy in Kampala issued a statement on July 2006 saying that “the United States respects Uganda’s decision on this matter, but that those who have committed atrocities during the Ugandan insurgency should be held accountable for their deeds” adding “Countries that are signatories to the Rome Statute establishing the ICC are expected to cooperate in arresting ICC-indicted individuals; Uganda is a signatory to the Rome Statute but the United States is not.”
(ST)
Maper
South Sudan president to visit Uganda
Good effort mr. Kiir, but beware of Ugandan presidential helicopters. Use your own always.
Deng Aruei Yak
South Sudan president to visit Uganda
i alway unhapy when i heard that the president of south Sudan is going to visiting Uganda, because of incident of the helipter that killed Garang and his body guard three years back and i wish president Kiir will use his own helipter not those ill of Uganda government which are not save to foreigner and are save to them. i am also appear to the South Sudanese security to take great care, when president is going to country like Uganda which did the first mistake although its was not narrate out . anyway we are friends to Ugandian and the history will never beforgotten to me and all sudanese who know what they are doing .President Kiir is the only splm founder who is alive and we all to take care of him and not specific group of people .hold on for good relationship with outside world, our president Kiir Mayardit.God bless your journey to Uganda and others countries
Prophet Green
South Sudan president to visit Uganda
Your Excellency,the GOSS shall be accorded respect and international recognition for its legitimacy to broker peace in uganda and perhaps other countries too.it is a splendid thing in the eyes of all.
Let us show others who normaly view sudanese as aggressive and war-minded people that their attitude is proven incorrect for that matter.it is not a good sight to see our fellow brothers ugandans being chopped and maimed everyday by their own.
there shall be progress in economic,political,and social sectors if the two countries enjoy the peace deserved,
therefor,here under the sun we need peace and peace is the only thing we need to know, we need to have.God bless,
Ohang,
(cairo wing obsevvant)
Ahasakmoi
South Sudan president to visit Uganda
Kiir, your plans are always below standards, why cant you change your mind and behave like our hero, do you know that the war is underway ?
If not wait and you must prepare your place for resetlement in Uganda.
Why cant you discuss ways of our own peace first ?, charity begind at home ok.
Please take care as it look like you will not lead us through because of your paralel directions always .
Deng Magot Riem
South Sudan president to visit Uganda
Thanks to my friends who expressed thier concerns about Kiir’s travelling to Uganda. It is not an individual’s worries, but the regional concern. H.E. Mayardit must beaware of Ugandan friendship. Shouldn’t aboundant it, but be always, high on alert. Use your onw jet or any means of travel and not Ugandan provision.
Trust them but not too much. They may be friends in wolf’s skins. Going to Uganda was how we lost him(Dr Garang)
Mabor Yuang Ngomg Amo
South Sudan president to visit Uganda
To all people who have had already comment about visiting of our honourable Mr President Salva Kiir Mayadrit to his visit to Uganda.
His is life is not on the comment we make and Ugandan government are not enemy to the leaders of Southern Sudan or people of Southern Sudan. I am sick of hear that people of Southern Sudan returned as an enemy to people of Ugandan or Kenyan.
Why did you take Ugandan government as your enemy, today and you didn’t take them as your enemies, when your life was in jeopardy? During the war.
Without Uganda and Kenya we wouldn’t have C.P.A we talking about it now.
I was thinking it is a time for people of Southern Sudan will sit down and say officially appreciation to people of Uganda and Kenya for their help during 22 years of the war and our were living and still now there are southern Sudan. Plus Ethiopia and Eritrea without those four countries I mentioned already we wouldn’t survived the C.P.A.
Actually you are very selfishness. Do you know that there are some Southern Sudan refugees? Whose remain to those two countries you criticized in since signing of Comprehensive peace agreement?
Also there is none of you who have blood relation then his son if there were real proved that garang was kill by Ugandan government his own son would operated big business a company in KAMPALA Uganda.
To bringing your attention I don’t have any of my relative living to those countries. But doesn’t mean if you don’t have any relative live you will abuse the authority. Did you people realise for the consequences for what you are to do yours brothers and sisters?
Do you know whose your real an enemy is? Egypt ain are really an enemy of the Southern Sudan.
Mr President You are man of desire and courage and I do believe your visit to Uganda is a part of C.P.A. God with you.
GOD Bless Southern Sudan.
Thank you all
By Mabor Yuang