Sudan urges Islamic organisation to determine if Uganda supports rebels
June 19, 2014 (KHARTOUM) – Sudan’s foreign minister, Ali Karti, Thursday called on the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to say explicitly if Uganda harbours and supports rebel groups that fight his government.
Following what the Islamic organisation formed a fact findings mission led by a Tunisian diplomat, Al-Habib Kaabashi who is also the head of OIC political department.
Karti who is participating at a meeting of OIC foreign ministers in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, was briefed by Kaabashi on the activities of his panel and told the Sudanese foreign minister that they demanded Kampala to “stop harbouring armed groups that are fighting against Sudan”.
According to the official SUNA, the diplomat said they recommended at the level of the OIC general secretariat that the committee continues its activities and work to bridge the gap between the two countries.
Kaabashi further added that the Ugandan president welcomed their demarche and expressed readiness to engage in talks with Sudan to address the problem.
However, the Sudanese minister said that fact finding committee has to submit a report on its mission and to say “whether Uganda effectively supports the armed movements opposed to the Sudan or not”.
Regarding the willingness of Yoweri Museveni to settle the issue, Karti told the OIC official that it is not the first time that Uganda makes such pledges and fails to meet it.
On 12 October 2013, in a “friendly and frank” meeting held in Addis Ababa with his Sudanese counterpart Omer al-Bashir, president Museveni vowed to stop his support to the rebel groups.
But the two countries continued to trade accusations of support to rebel groups.
The Ugandan Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi, on 23 April, said his country filed a complaint with the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) about Sudan’s alleged support for LRA.
Karti expressed the hope that Kampala shows a sense of responsibility and work to respect Sudan’s sovereignty and stop interfering in its internal affairs.
He further stressed Sudan’s keenness to build good relations with all countries, especially its neighbours, adding that Khartoum does not object to support any efforts that will bring peace and stability in the region.
(ST)