Bashir and Museveni discuss bilateral ties, peace in S. Sudan
September 15, 2015 (KHARTOUM) – Presidents Omer Hassan al-Bashir and Yoweri Kaguta Museveni held Tuesday a first meeting on bilateral relations and South Sudan peace immediately after the arrival of the Ugandan leader.
The visiting president was welcomed at Khartoum Airport by al-Bashir, his government members of his government and foreign diplomats, three hours from the announced time.
After what, the two leaders and their delegations started discussions at the presidential palace, as they will hold a joint press conference before the return of the Ugandan president to Kampala.
On Wednesday Museveni will pay a visit to the Military College and the International University of Africa which includes a faculty of Islamic studies where African students are formed.
Sudanese foreign minister Ibrahim Ghandour told reporters that Sudan and Ugandan will jointly work to bring stability in the neighbouring South Sudan, stressing that the two countries are directly affected by the conflict taking place in the new nation since December 2013.
SPLM-IO leader Riek Machar arrived on Tuesday evening to the Sudanese capital for talks with the two presidents about the implementation of the peace agreement.
The rebel group said that Machar was transported by an aircraft belonging to the Sudanese presidency, giving the impression that talks between Museveni and the rebel leader was part of the visit.
Juba remains very reluctant to the implementation of the peace agreement, as a faction opposed to the peace agreement says the deal enables Machar to keep his army in the capital, and at the same time puts a foreigner with a large power at the head of the ceasefire monitoring mechanism.
Ghandour expressed hope that the visit be successful, expecting it will achieve positive results and improve bilateral cooperation on issues of common interest. He further descried the visit, of the Ugandan president as “important”.
He said the joint security committee between the two countries will meet during the visit, adding that its last meeting was held in Kampala since six months.
The minister also denied any American or foreign pressure behind the visit.
Ugandan army fought the rebels alongside the South Sudanese government troops loyal to the president Salva Kiir. In addition, Juba alleged several times that Khartoum backed the SPLM-IO rebels, while the Sudanese army warned against the deployment of Ugandan soldiers near its border.
Kampala and Khartoum also trade accusations of support to rebel groups. However Sudanese officials recently praised Uganda, saying it did show good faith and restricted the activities of Sudanese rebels.
(ST)