Museveni warns Bashir over South Sudan

President Museveni has called on Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir to end “aggression” against the South.

He urged the Khartoum government to back off South Sudan stating that President Bashir must abide by the 2005 peace agreements ending decades of conflict between the North and South.

At a joint news conference with South Sudan leader Salva Kiir, the Ugandan leader said Khartoum cannot make the “mistake of managing Sudan as an Arab country and yet it is Afro-Arab.”

South Sudan blames the North over recent attacks on the continent’s newest country, that became autonomous following a referendum in July 2011. (READ: South Sudan accuses Khartoum of fresh bombing)

A statement from President Museveni's office said South Sudan people had “voted twice democratically” expressing their right of self-determination.

Salva Kiir is in Uganda for a two day State visit. While officials remained tight lipped over the agenda of the visit, sources confided to the Nation that regional security was top on the agenda.

The South Sudan army claimed on Friday that Khartoum military war planes attacked their territory a day after the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) attacked bases in Kuek, Upper Nile and Raja County in Western Bhar el-Ghazal.

SPLA spokesman, Col Philip Aguer Panyang said: “This is a terrible violation of the sovereignty of South Sudan.”

South Sudan has dismissed Khartoum’s readiness to resume the African Union mediated talks on post-independence arrangements that should have started on Friday in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Ruling party secretary general Pagan Amum Okiech, told reporters on Friday that Khartoum had rejected an invitation through the AU High Level Implementation Panel, headed by former South African President Thabo Mbeki, to resume the talks.

Both sides are yet to resolve issues on the Abyei region, border demarcation and oil shipment fees.

President Museveni reiterated that his government would offer unreserved support for South Sudan’s quest for inclusion in the East African Community.

“That is part of the reason we have been fighting to create a strong Africa,” he said.

“Uganda will support the government of the Republic of South Sudan to join the Community and we will receive her with open hands.”