{UAH} EAC DISOWNS UPDF SUDAN MISSION

Uganda: EAC Disowns UPDF South Sudan Mission

BY SADAB KITATTA KAAYA & SULAIMAN KAKAIRE, 21 JANUARY 2014

Kenya, which currently holds the rotating leadership of the East African Community, has said Uganda unilaterally sent troops to South Sudan without the community's nod of approval.

The chairperson of the EAC council of ministers, Kenya's cabinet secretary for East African Affairs, Commerce and Tourism, Phyllis Jepkosgei Kandie, told The Observer on the sidelines of Monday's press conference, ahead of Tuesday's East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) meeting in Kampala, that Uganda's military intervention was not sanctioned by EAC.

She was, however, reluctant to discuss the matter further.

"That is an issue for Uganda, and I can say that it is mainly political, but I wouldn't want to discuss it," Kandie said.

Ugandan troops were deployed in South Sudan soon after fighting broke out between soldiers loyal to Gen Salva Kiir, the president, and Dr Riek Machar, his erstwhile vice president, on December 15, 2013. What began as a dispute over political power or an alleged coup attempt against President Kiir, has quickly turned into an ethnic-based civil war that largely pits Dinka against Nuer.

Government officials had made it appear that the UPDF intervention was blessed by the EAC or IGAD (the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development).

"When we talk of humanitarian support, we mean the thousands of refugees that cross into our countries. Kenya for example has been receiving a lot of refugees from Somalia and now South Sudan; do you just ignore such people? No, you have to offer humanitarian support and that is what we agreed as EAC," Kandie told The Observer.

Speaking to journalists in Juba last week, President Kiir appeared to confirm that Uganda had taken unilateral as opposed to regional initiative when he said he had sought the help of the Ugandan army. At the opening of the East African Legislative Assembly session today, President Museveni said the deployment of Ugandan troops in Sudan was part of a regional effort to fight conflicts escalated by ideological mistakes and foreign influence. "

The conflicts in South Sudan and DRC have been fueled by ideological mistakes... sectarian conflicts based on tribe and religion should be fought," Museveni said, adding that such conflicts are promoted by opportunists and foreigners.

"Foreigners encourage these useless people by funding them... They call their embassies and they give them handouts. They should chase them away... " he said.

EALA Speaker Margaret Nantongo Zziwa, in her opening remarks on Tuesday, said the deployment of UPDF in South Sudan was justified. "The recent deployment in Juba was timely knowing that it was part of the IGAD resolution in Nairobi and also taking note that Uganda had to intervene for her safety," she said.

Meanwhile, in response to widespread speculation about the war casualties in South Sudan, the Ugandan army spokesman announced today that nine Ugandan soldiers had died so far, all in an ambush one week ago.

Twelve others sustained injuries, Lt Col Paddy Ankunda said.

           Thé Mulindwas Communication Group
"With Yoweri Museveni and Dr. Kiiza Besigye Uganda is in anarchy"
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