South Sudan says Khartoum wants to torpedo Uganda’s talks
October 25, 2007 (KAMPALA) — A southern Sudan official has accused Khartoum of using money to sabotage the SPLM sponsored peace talks between the Ugandan government and the rebel Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), the New Vision reported.
“Those elements from Khartoum are using money and other means to ensure that the LRA does not sign a peace agreement with Kampala. They do not want the chaos in South Sudan to end,” said the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) affairs minister, Lt. Gen. Dominic Dim Deng.
Sudan ruling party, the National Congress Party supported in the past the Ugandan rebels to destabilize Ugandan government which was supporting the former rebel Sudan People’s Liberation Movement.
He was recently meeting ministers from Uganda led by Isaac Musumba, the foreign affairs state minister.
“The enemy of South Sudan and Uganda is from Khartoum. They are claiming that those who are raping the Ugandan women traders and robbing their property are the SPLA. But that it is not true,” he said.
“They are using tricks, especially the customs market in Juba, because they know that most of the products sold there are from Uganda.”
Deng also said some people impersonate SPLA soldiers in the markets.
The Ugandan delegation also met Samson Kwaje, the South Sudan agriculture minister and Maj. Gen. Clement Wani, the central Equatoria state governor.
President Yoweri Museveni sent the delegation to Juba to investigate the recent death of Anthony Makuyi, the chief of Ugandan traders in South Sudan in September, as well as reports of exploitation of Ugandans workers there.
The team included ministers Ruth Nankabirwa (defence), Matia Kasaija (internal) Maurice Kagima Kiwanuka (economic monitoring), Lukia Nakadama, (gender) Nelson Gagawala(trade) Simon Ejut (transport) and Stephen Kagoda, the Permanent Secretary in the internal affairs ministry.
The delegation delivered a message from President Museveni to Salva Kiir, the South Sudan government president. Nankabirwa commended the South Sudan for mediating in the Juba talks.
In attendance were the SPLA top brass who included the chief of staff, Lt. Gen. Oyai Deng Ajak, Lt. Gen. David Owkuier, the acting Inspector General of Police, Maj. Gen. Kuol Dim Kuol, Maj. Gen. Ayuen Alier, Brig. Gen. Malual Majok Cieng Kuac, and Brig. Gen. Stephen Rolnyang.
(New Vision/ST)