Khartoum worried by Uganda military foray in South Sudan

KHARTOUM

The Sudanese government has expressed concern over Ugandan military intervention in the current war in South Sudan.

Sudan’s minister of foreign affairs, Mr Ali Karti, told the reporters in Khartoum on Monday that his government is refusing any foreign military intervention in neighbouring South Sudan.

“Sudan is the most interested country among the other neighbours of what happening in south Sudan because of much security, economic and strategic reasons,” the minister said, after a meeting with Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir.

“Sudan is standing beside the stability in South Sudan, but we principally reject foreign intervention in that country,” he pointed out.

“This intervention may attract other regional sides to intervene and that is deeply concerning us, and even Ethiopia has expressed its concern over these Ugandan military operations in south Sudan,” he explained.

“The IGAD summit which will be held in Juba on Thursday will discuss the foreign intervention in south Sudan, beside the efforts of how to convince the warring parties to cease hostilities,” he added.

The Ugandan army is fighting beside government troops in south Sudan.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST

Sudanese political analyst Abdul Ali told the Daily Nation on Monday that the Ugandan military intervention is very sensitive for the other countries in the region.

He further added that there will be conflict of interests and ambitions within the East African countries.

“I think this may also be concern for the international community which pays special attention for the oil-rich world’s youngest state,” he said.

“For Sudan this situation is of great concern because of the oilfields and the flowing of the southern crude through the Sudanese pipeline, because Sudan may even lose the transportation fees paid by South Sudan,” he added.

NO MILITARY INTERVENTION

The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) will hold an urgent summit on Thursday in Juba to discuss the latest developments in the crisis in South Sudan.

The Sudanese government has confirmed that it has no intention of intervening militarily in the current war in South Sudan. Sudan and South Sudan have agreed to jointly work to restore oilfields damaged by the fighting between the South Sudanese government and rebels.

Sudan will provide technical support to South Sudan to enable it resume production in Unity and Upper Nile states. The two countries have also agreed to send 900 Sudanese petroleum technicians to the oilfields.

Meanwhile, nine Ugandan soldiers have been killed and 12 others wounded during fighting in South Sudan, the army said on Tuesday, dismissing rebel claims to have killed close to 50 Ugandan soldiers in a briefing to Kenyan foreign Ministry.

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni confirmed last week that troops had been killed during combat in the war-ravaged young nation in support of President Salva Kiir.

Army spokesman Paddy Ankunda said on Tuesday that nine had died in a single rebel ambush.

“Let there be no speculation any more,” Lieutenant Colonel Ankunda said. “Uganda has lost nine soldiers and 12 injured in South Sudan.”