Khartoum summons Ugandan diplomat over president Museveni’s remarks

November 27, 2014 (KHARTOUM) – The Sudanese foreign ministry on Thursday summoned Uganda’s ambassador in protest after it emerged that president Yoweri Museveni accused Sudan of seeking to take advantage of the South Sudanese conflict.

According to the Sudanese foreign ministry, Museveni in a meeting held with South Sudanese officials, said Khartoum constantly celebrates fighting between South Sudanese and plans to plunder its southern neighbour’s wealth.

Khartoum neither gave details about the date of the meeting nor identity of the South Sudanese officials president Museveni met.

“The foreign ministry summoned the Ugandan chargé d’affaires and informed him of the government’s refusal to what it considered a negative statements issued by President Museveni, during a meeting with leaders from South Sudan,” said the acting head of the department of neighbouring countries, Bukhari al-Affendi on Thursday.

Sudan does not need evidence to clarify its position on the stability of the situation in South Sudan, al-Affendi further said, pointing to the support of his government for the East African regional bloc (IGAD) efforts to end the South Sudanese crisis and his government decision to open its border for the South Sudanese fleeing the conflict.

“All this refutes any attempts to sow seeds of discord between Sudan and South Sudan,” the Sudanese diplomat emphasised.

Following the eruption of the South Sudanese conflict in December 2013, president Omer al-Bashir was keen to show his support to the government of president Salva Kiir and called for a negotiated solution to the conflict.

In August, Bashir also received the former vice-president and rebel leader Riek Machar and vowed to support efforts for a negotiated settlement.

Relations between Sudan and Uganda were always tense and tumultuous. The two countries accuse each other of supporting rebel groups. Kampala regularly says that Khartoum harbours Lords Resistance Army (LRA) rebels while the latter accuses the Ugandan government of training and supporting Sudanese rebel groups.

Also Khartoum is very anxious about the Ugandan military presence in South Sudan.

On 4 November, the Sudanese army spokesperson al-Sawarmi Khaled said Juba government uses Ugandan warplanes to raid rebel positions near the joint border, pointing they observed the massive presence Ugandan airplanes in South Sudan.

(ST)