Uganda Not Involved In Sudan War, Says US

By John Kakande A US parliamentary committee has said Uganda is not involved in the conflict in southern Sudan as persistently claimed by the National Islamic Front regime in Khartoum. "Sudan's neighbouring states of Ethiopia, Eritrea and Uganda have not intervened in the (Sudanese) conflict. This has hampered the ability of populations to defend themselves against attack from Sudanese government forces," said the US House committee on international relations in its report dated June 8. The committee, headed by Henry Hyde, recommended to Congress to pass the Bill for enactment of the Sudan Peace Act that would give authority to President George Bush's administration to take measures to end what it described as "the longest running civil war in the world." The report said more than two million Sudanese have died of war-related causes since 1983 and that another three million are internally displaced, with two million living in squatter areas of Khartoum. Bush's administration would provide US$10m to the Sudanese rebel coalition, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), in 'economic support funds' this financial year once the Bill is passed by Congress. It is, however, stated that the money will not be used to provide "lethal aid." The Bill also seeks to direct the US Secretary of State, General Colin Powell, "To collect information and report to Congress about incidents which may constitute war crimes in Sudan." The committee said Powell should work closely with the US ambassador-at-large for War Crimes Issues. The US House committee report said the American government should "use necessary pressure to exact a holistic conclusion to the war in the Sudan." "It was recommended that the US government, among other things, facilitates "creation of viable, democratic, civil authority in autonomous regions beyond Sudanese government control." The committee said the exploitation of oil resources by Sudan "has potential to alter fundamentally the Sudan conflict." It said Sudan has potential to become a mid-size oil producer. Ends