Sudan has to provide evidence of supporting JEM rebels – Uganda

November 20, 2010 (KHARTOUM) — Sudan has to prove that Uganda trains fighters from the rebel Justice and Equality Movement (JEM), an Ugandan diplomat said this week denying accusations of supporting Darfur rebel.

Sudanese authorities accused Kampala of harboring JEM rebels who fight against the government army in the troubled region of Darfur since more than seven years accusing Khartoum of marginalizing their region in terms of development and wealth-sharing.

Khartoum says the rebels, since the implementation of security arrangements and closure of Chadian border earlier this year, are sending troops to Uganda and southern Sudan where the government of the semi-autonomous region is also accused of backing Darfur rebels.

James Mugume, permanent secretary of the Ugandan foreign ministry denied any support to the Sudanese rebels and further disclosed contacts with the Sudanese government on this regard saying they asked without success the Sudanese government to come to Uganda to discuss their claims.

“Absolutely there is no truth in it. We have asked these people to come, we are waiting for them,” said Mugume, in statements to the Chinese Xinhua last Tuesday.

Ugandan ambassador to Sudan Betty Akech had been summoned twice by the Sudanese foreign ministry to protest over the support of his government to Darfur rebels, the Daily Monitor reported.

Uganda accuses Sudan of supporting the rebel Lord Resistance Army (LRA) since the years of civil war in southern Sudan.

Last month the Ugandan army spokesperson said LRA leader Joseph Kony has left Central African Republic and currently hiding in the restive region of Darfur which borders the CAR.

“We cannot pronounce ourselves on whether Kony receives any support from the Sudanese authorities but what we can confirm is that (the Sudanese) are aware of his presence on their territory and they’ve not done anything to chase him,” said Felix Kulayigye, Uganda’s defence ministry spokesperson.

(ST)