Accusations of weapons delivery could harm Sudan-Kenya ties- envoy
October 26, 2008 (KHARTOUM) — The Kenyan ambassador to Sudan once again dismissed Khartoum accusations that his government was involved in weapons delivery to southern Sudan. He further said that these allegations could harm bilateral ties.
Sudan alleged that Kenya is involved in weapons delivery to Southern Sudan government via the Ukrainian ship seized off the Somali coast. The foreign ministry summoned the ambassador of Kenya to Sudan on October 13 regarding arms shipments to southern Sudan.
Ambassador Robert Mutua Ngesu told reporters today that the hijacked weapons by the Somali pirates are belonging to the Kenyan army and have nothing with southern Sudan army.
Ngesu further said that Khartoum should stop such accusations because it could deteriorate bilateral relations between the two countries. He further said that Kenya is very keen to the political stability of its northern neighbour.
This week the Sudanese government decided to send a law level delegation to attend an Inter-Government Authority on Development meeting to be held in Nairobi. The Vice-President Ali Osman Taha was planned to head the delegation.
The meeting will discuss the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement which was sponsored by the Kenyan government. The Sudanese decision was seen as an escalation of the controversy on the hijacked Ukrainian ship.
Somali pirates hijacked on September 25 a Belize-flagged ship “Faina” as it neared the Kenyan port of Mombasa carrying a cargo of 33 Soviet-type T-72 tanks, grenade launchers and ammunition.
American and Sudanese military source said that the ultimate destination was southern Sudan and that Kenya was only the transhipment point. However, Kenya asserted that the seized weapons belong to Kenya’s armed forces.
Also the Sudanese minister of energy Zubair Ahmed Al-Hassan cancelled a visit to Kenya to finalise an oil purchase deal last week.
Al-Hassan was to be in Nairobi to sign an agreement with his Kenyan counterpart, Kiraitu Murungi that would have seen Kenya start importing oil at a cheaper rate from Sudan. Kenya had already signed a memorandum of understanding with Sudan over the purchase.
(ST)