Uganda, Sudan discuss regional security

April 15, 2009 (KHARTOUM) – Sudanese and Ugandan officials today discussed efforts among states in the Great Lakes region to facilitate herding inter-border movements and prevent clashes.

Uganda’s foreign affairs state minister Isaac Musumba met in Khartoum with his Sudanese counterpart Ali Karti. Musumba also came in his capacity as the coordinator of the Great lakes organization.

Sudan official news agency (SUNA) quoted Karti as saying that said that achieving peace and security is crucial to development in the region.

The Sudanese foreign ministry spokesperson Ali Al-Sadiq told reporters that both sides also discussed political support and trade between Uganda and Sudan.

Al-Sadiq said that the Ugandan official stressed his country’s support to Sudan in its conformation with the International Criminal Court (ICC) which last month issued an arrest warrant for president Omer Hassan Al-Bashir.

The Ugandan president Yoweri Musievini said in the past that Bashir should be investigated by the African Union (AU) and took a cautious position on the issue contrary to other African states that have rallied behind the Sudanese head of state.

Musumba said that his visit to Sudan comes in the framework of disarmament in the border areas of Sudan, Kenya, Uganda and Ethiopia.

(ST)