Sudan and Uganda to strengthen ties in fight against rebels

KHARTOUM, Sept 21, 2003 (dpa) — Sudanese president Omar Hassan al-Bashir told the Ugandan government on Sunday that Sudan would work to improve ties between the two countries.

He was responding to a message from Ugandan president Yoweri Museveni, which was conveyed by Ugandan Defence Minister Amama Mbabazi in Khartoum.

Mbabazi arrived in Khartoum to negotiate means to fight activities by the rebel Ugandan Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) in South Sudan, on the basis of the countries’ renewed military protocol of March 2002, which allows Ugandan troops to crackdown on rebels bases in Sudan.

The minister said Uganda was looking forward to sudan’s cooperation in the fight against the LRA.

After first talks with presidential aide Mubarak al-Fadhil he said he hoped Sudan would cooperate with Uganda to bring about stability and peace in the region.

Al-Bashir made clear Sudan was keen to maintain good relations with Uganda, according to the agreements signed between the two countries and within the framework of regional and international charters on good neighbourliness.

He also promised to press ahead with talks started by the two presidents in the Mozambican capital of Maputo last August.

Last month, Museveni had warned Khartoum that ties between the two countries were at risk and would change fundamentally if LRA rebels would receive arms from within Uganda again. Al-Bashir had rejected the Museveni’s allegation.

In early September, the United States requested Khartoum to mediate between the Ugandan government and the LRA rebels in a bid to end the 15-year civil war in Northern Uganda.

Relations between Sudan and Uganda have improved generally despite the recent Ugandan accusations that the Sudanese army had resumed their support for the rebels.

The LRA has been conducting insurgencies against Museveni’s government since 1988.