{UAH} Is Sudan Worried about the Ugandan Military Intervention in S. Sudan?

Is Sudan Worried about the Ugandan Military Intervention in S. Sudan?

Like many countries, Sudan is concerned about the Ugandan military intervention in South Sudan because it has many interests in the new born state including joint economic interests and border.

The Sudanese government, however, 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. 

Sudan's stand is stemming from its non intervention policy in neighbouring countries.  This policy was translated during the military coup in Egypt which ousted the president elect, Muhamed Morsi and during the late upset in South Sudan.

Ugandan intervention in South Sudan was not mandated by regional or international bodies. President Museveni has only poked his nose in the conflict for very personal interests. 

Uganda has fluctuating ties with Sudan, hence the intervention will increase the number of South Sudanese refugees, affect oil industry and destabilize the Sudanese-South Sudanese borders.

Sudanese foreign minister, Ali Karti has made clear when he told the reporters in Khartoum on Monday that his government is refusing any foreign military intervention in neighboring South Sudan.

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

The intervention  is very sensitive for the other countries in the region. 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.

“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. 

Many countries have opposed the Ugandan intervention. Noway, for instance has necessitated pull out of the Uganda troops from South Sudan.
Analysts had worried Kampala's intervention risked turning the clashes into a regional conflict. 

"It is now important that President Museveni of Uganda starts the process of reducing and later pulling out the Ugandan troops that are in Juba and surrounding areas," Norwegian Foreign Minister Borge Brende told Reuters. 

Brende said he had delivered his message to Uganda's foreign minister on the sidelines of an African Union meeting in Addis Ababa, and to Sudan on a trip to Khartoum. 
Ethiopia, which currently chairs IGAD, earlier voiced concerns about Uganda's intervention. 
President Museveni should stop  poking and leave the South s Sudanese people solve their own difference without military intervention.

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Gwokto La'Kitgum

"Even a small dog can piss on a tall Building", Jim Hightower