Uganda Accuses Khartoum of Resuming Support for LRA
26 April 2014
Juba - A senior Ugandan government official on Wednesday accused Sudan of
resuming its support for the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) rebels.
Sudan's president Omer Hassan al-Bashir delivers a speech on 27 January 2014
in the capital, Khartoum (Photo: AFP/Ebrahim Hamid)
Speaking on the seemingly wary relations between the two countries, Prime
Minister Amama Mbabazi said Uganda has filed a complaint with the
Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) about Sudan's alleged support for
LRA.
"We had hoped that we had put all this behind us, but sadly, Sudan has not
stopped supporting Joseph Kony and the LRA," Mbabazi reportedly said.
"Sudan accused us of supporting rebellion in their country, which I denied.
The OIC has taken note of our complaints and it has expressed willingness to
mediate", he added.
Both Sudan and Uganda are members of the OIC, a 57-member body which
safeguards and protect the vital interests of Muslims as well as work for
the settlement of conflicts and disputes involving member states.
Kampala and Khartoum have, in the past, traded accusations of supporting
rebel groups. Sudan government says Uganda hosts Sudanese Revolutionary
Front rebels.
SUDAN RECALLS ENVOY
The strained relationship between Uganda and Sudan deteriorated further with
Khartoum recently recalling its ambassador to Kampala Hussein Awad Ali, over
long held suspicions that Uganda was harbouring Sudanese rebels.
Diplomatic sources told The East African that Sudan's ambassador to Uganda
left the country on 17 April after he was recalled by the Khartoum
government.
Some sources, however, said the Sudanese diplomat was requested to leave
Uganda after intelligence information reportedly linked him to espionage.
Uganda's Foreign Affairs spokesperson said it was within Khartoum's
prerogative to recall it envoy, adding that Uganda already explained its
position to Sudan regarding the presence of its rebels in Kampala.
"What Uganda has done is to give shelter to their [Sudanese rebel] families
and of course they come in to visit their families, but are not allowed to
launch any war from here", Fred Opolot was quoted saying.
Uganda expelled a Sudanese diplomat last year over alleged espionage.
Kampala accused Jad-el-Seed Mohammed Elhag of involvement in "activities
beyond the norm."
In January last year, Sudan lodged a complaint against Uganda with the
African Union and the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region,
after the opposition political parties and Sudan rebels signed an agreement
dubbed "New Dawn" in Kampala whose aim, Khartoum said, was to overthrow the
regime.
Uganda has, however, denied having any intentions of overthrowing the
Khartoum regime or supporting any rebel group with the intention of regime
change.