JEM, SLM call on Uganda’s Museveni to mediate for peace in Sudan

June 15, 2015 (KJARTOUM) – The Justice and Equality Movement and the Sudan Liberation Movement – Minni Minnawi on Wednesday called on the Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni to take part in the ongoing efforts to bring peace in Sudan.

The two groups, which hold arms against the government of President Omer al-Bashir in Darfur region since 2003, call to open the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur (DDPD) for talks and refuse to sign the Roadmap Agreement brokered by the African Union asking to create a conducive environment for the constitutional conference .

”The Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM) and the Justice and Equality Movement Sudan (JEM) strongly believe that the Republic of Uganda with its visionary leadership is best placed to play a constructive role in the search for peace in the Republic of Sudan,” said a joint statement extended to Sudan Tribune in the first hours of Wednesday.

The two rebel movements pointed to the ” instrumental role” played by President Museveni in the resolution of the South Sudanese crisis, the recent rapprochement between Khartoum and Kampala and the Ugandan role in the conclusion of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement in 2005 ending the civil war between Sudanese government and the SPLM.

” Therefore, SLM and JEM wholeheartedly request and welcome H. E. President Yoweri Museveni to exploit his exceptionally rich experience in the affairs of the region and his outstanding statesmanship in working for peace in the Republic of Sudan which will consequently contribute positively to the sustenance of peace in the Republic of South Sudan,” the two group said.

Kampala and Khartoum traded accusations for longtime of supporting rebel groups, but their relations have improved over the past months and the ICC-wanted President Omer al-Bashir attended the inauguration of President Museveni last May.

Also, Museveni made negative remarks in his inaugural address about the International Criminal Court when he described it as ‘a bunch of useless people’.

last month the two rebel groups asked Qatar to join the African Union-led mediation in order to discuss some outstanding issues already outlined in the DDPD.

But seemingly, Khartoum refused the request as it keeps saying the holdout groups have to ink the DDPD and then the government can discuss to their requests.

(ST)