Sudantribune.com: Sudan’s FVP, Ugandan president discuss security issues

December 4, 2015 (KHARTOUM) - Sudanese First Vice-President Bakri Hassan Salih and the Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni Friday discussed the outstanding security issues between the two countries.

Sudan’s President Omar al-Bashir (L) smiles with Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni as he arrives at Khartoum Airport for talks during an official visit to Sudan September 15, 2015. (Photo Reuters/Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah)

The two countries have traded accusations of support to rebel groups from both sides. Khartoum accused Kampala of backing rebel groups from Darfur and the Two Areas while the latter accused the former of supporting the Lord Resistance Army (LRA).

However, during the recent months, Khartoum admitted that the Sudanese rebels are no longer residing in Uganda and pledged to cooperate Kampala and called on the African Union to investigate the LRA presence in Sudan.

In statements from Johannesburg where is taking place the summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), the Sudanese foreign minister Ibrahim Ghandour stated that Salih and Museveni met on the sidelines of the summit in presence of several ministers from the two countries.

The meeting discussed the post-visit of President Museveni to Khartoum last September, and reviewed the implementation of its outcome.

Also, the two sides discussed the joint security committee agreed between the two countries during the visit of the Vice-President Hassabo Abdel-Rahman to Uganda last February, Ghandour said.

He further said the third meeting of the Committee will be held in the capital Kampala, but he didn’t say when.

During his visit to Khartoum, Museveni and Bashir agreed to work together to bring stability in South Sudan and the region, and to end tensions between the two countries over the issue of rebel groups.

The Sudanese foreign minister said the meeting also touched on the ongoing efforts to achieve peace in South Sudan

"The two sides agreed to the need to bring peace to South Sudan in favour of peace and stability in both countries and the region," he added in remakes he made from Johannesburg.

The meeting, according to Ghandour discussed the economic relations and trade between the two countries He further Ghandour said that the Ugandan minister of trade and industry will visit Khartoum soon to sign a number of agreements.