Museveni, Salva Kiir reiterate support for peace in Uganda and Darfur

July 22, 2008 (KAMPALA) — The Sudanese First Vice-President and head of southern Sudan government agreed with the Ugandan president on the need to sign peace in Uganda with LRA rebels and block indictment of President al-Bashir for the sake of peace in Darfur and southern Sudan

During a one day visit to Kampala, Salva kiir Mayadrit and Yoweri Museveni discussed African support for the Sudanese President against the 10 charges filed against him by the International Criminal Court prosecutor who seeks an arrest warrant for him.

Preisent Museveni reiterated to Vice President Mayadrit his support to the African Union efforts to suspend any indictment of the Sudanese president, saying it could hinder the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement and the peace process in Darfur

The African Union called on the UN Security Council to defer the process initiated by the ICC prosecutor, taking into account the need to ensure that the ongoing peace process is not jeopardised.

The First Vice President, who is the head of a crisis committee to deal with the ICC, told the press that the “Sudanese government should be allowed to implement the accord signed with the South Sudan government and to negotiate with the fighting forces in Darfur.”

ICC prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo accuses al-Bashir of having personally instructed his forces to destroy in substantial part three non-Arab ethnic groups in Darfur: the Fur, Masalit and Zaghawa.

UGANDA’S PEACE AND ARMY WITHDRAWAL

Talking to the media about the resumption of the Sudanese sponsored peace talks to end war in northern Uganda, they affirmed they attachment to reach peace and waiting for the signing of the final peace agreement by the leader of the Lord Resistance Army Joseph Kony.

The formal peace negotiations between the two parties were over since March this year and that a final draft of the Final Peace Agreement was initialed by the two parties, pending signatures by both President Yoweri Museveni and Chairman Joseph Kony of LRA.

During a visit of the Ugandan President to Juba, Salva Kiir and Museveni agreed on April 18, to give the Uganda peace process another chance after the LRA leadership failed to sign the Final Peace Agreement on April 14.

Salva Kiir told reporters in the Ugandan capital that Uganda, South Sudan are waiting for Joseph Kony to sign the final peace agreement.

While the Ugandan rebels ask for the resumption of peace talks, Salva Kiir told the press “all we want is his signature on that paper.”

Museveni was more clear when he said “we want him to sign the final peace agreement and not fresh talks.”

The Ugandan President further stressed that they tackled the border security, a matter that implies cooperation between the Ugandan army and the Southern Sudan army.

“We have had very fruitful discussions on the border security. We have discussed Kony and the LRA in the area, infrastructure and other elements of bilateral cooperation.” Museveni said.

Museveni and Mayadrit also turned down questions related to the withdrawal of the Ugandan army from southern Sudan as it had been requested by the Vice president of southern Sudan government, Riek Machar.

Earlier in July, Machar said that Kiir had already instructed the SPLA Chief of Staff, Lt. General Oyai Deng Ajak to communicate the order to his Uganda army counter-part in Kampala.

But Salva Kiir before his departure to Uganda denied such order. In an interview with the daily Al-Rayaam said that he gave no such orders. Kiir underlined that such a decision needs more time.

(ST)