Kampala
15/10/07
 
UGANDA MAINTAIN ITS DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH SUDAN IS STILL CORDIAL AND WARM

By Leo Odera Omolo
 
Uganda has maintained that the Pulling out threat issued last week by Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) from the Khartoum based Sudanese government of national unity will not affect relationship between Kampala and Khartoum.
 
A government spokesman in Kampala who preferred that his identity remained anonymity said the diplomatic relations between the two neighbouring countries is very CORDIAL,warm and would remain intact.
 
At the same time the Sudanese Ambassador to Uganda Hassan Ibrahim Gadkrim said at the weekend that Khartoum regime and SPLM were already engaged in peace talks in Juba on the concerns raised by the SPLM.
 
This is an issue between the ruling party, the National Congress Party (NCP) and SPLM and I can assure you newsmen, that it will not affect relations between Uganda and the Sudan.
 
Peace talks between the Uganda rebel group, the Lord Resistance Army (LRA) and the Ugandan government will continue,’’ said the Sudanese envoy.
 
SPLM last Thursday surprisingly suspended its participation in the Northern Arab Muslim dominated national government over the delays in the implementation of the comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA).
 
But the Ambassador defended the Khartoum government saying they were moving ahead with the implementation of the CPA process.
 
About pulling forces from the South, we have already reached 84.6 per cent yet there are still four years to go in accordance with the clauses stipulated in the CPA.
 
This has not been completed because of logistic and weather problems. The army is now under one command,’’ he said.
 
Ambassador Gadkrim also said Dr. Luce Dongi, from the South, had been appointed on the National Commission of Petroleum to represent the interests of the South.
 
But the Ugandan Minister for Foreign Affairs Sam Kutesa said the latest developments would definitely threaten regional stability if nothing was done to address the situation.
 
‘’This is a serious development and we believe that the CPA is absolutely crucial SPLM has raised serious concern which should be considered. We hope both sides will come to an understanding’’ said Minister Kutesa.
 
Last Thursday the Khartoum government was given an ultimatum three months to carry out key parts of the 2005 peace agreement by the south. The Juba based semi - autonomous SPLM dominated  regional government gave the Khartoum government until January 9th, 2008, three years since the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, to implement some of the contentious issues,’’
 
The information Minister of the Southern government Dr. Samson Kwaje was quoted by Ugandan press as saying that ‘’Salva Kiir’’ the president of the government of South Sudan, was on his way traveling to Khartoum in the coming days to discuss the stalement.
 
He said after the ‘’Idd Holiday Salva Kiir will go to Khartoum and meet the National Congress Party (CPA) the dominant party in the government.
 
Some of the unresolved issues according to SPLM are the demarcation of the North - South border, the redeployment of mainly Arabs northern troops in the Southern out of Oil fields and the creation of an administration for the old-rich Abyei area.
 
Other reasons cited were human rights violations and ‘’unconstitutional actions’’ by the Khartoum government.
 
The (SPLM) condemns unlawful detention of political opponents, censorship of the press and harassment of journalist, expulsion of diplomats without consultation, ‘’the SPLM deputy Secretary General Yasir Arman said in a statement distributed to the press.
 
The NCP has expelled Western diplomats, aid workers and even the head of the UN mission in Sudan in recent years. It has also detained some 25 opposition figures without charge for weeks.
 
Ends.
leooderaomolo@yahoo.com