Uganda calls emergency summit
Aug 03, 2005
KAMPALA, Wednesday - Uganda yesterday called for an emergency summit of East African leaders to discuss developments in Sudan after the weekend death of Sudanese vice-president and former freedom fighter John Garang.
KAMPALA, Wednesday - Uganda yesterday called for an emergency summit of East African leaders to discuss developments in Sudan after the weekend death of Sudanese vice-president and former freedom fighter John Garang.
Uganda, which chairs the regional inter-governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) that oversaw negotiations for a landmark January peace deal to end Sudan’s 21-year north-south civil war, said it wanted Sudan’s neighbours to reaffirm their commitment to the pact in the wake of Garang’s demise.
“We want to evaluate the situation following Garang’s death and give a reassurance that the region is committed to the Sudan peace process,†a senior Ugandan foreign ministry official said.
“We have sent out invitations and are waiting for confirmation,†the official told AFP on condition of anonymity, adding that Kampala had proposed August 20 as the date for the summit but that it was subject to change.
IGAD, which comprises Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Sudan, Uganda and nominally Somalia, is currently chaired by President Yoweri Museveni.
Garang died on Saturday when Museveni’s helicopter he was travelling crashed due to bad weather.
Uganda, which chairs the regional inter-governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) that oversaw negotiations for a landmark January peace deal to end Sudan’s 21-year north-south civil war, said it wanted Sudan’s neighbours to reaffirm their commitment to the pact in the wake of Garang’s demise.
“We want to evaluate the situation following Garang’s death and give a reassurance that the region is committed to the Sudan peace process,†a senior Ugandan foreign ministry official said.
“We have sent out invitations and are waiting for confirmation,†the official told AFP on condition of anonymity, adding that Kampala had proposed August 20 as the date for the summit but that it was subject to change.
IGAD, which comprises Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Sudan, Uganda and nominally Somalia, is currently chaired by President Yoweri Museveni.
Garang died on Saturday when Museveni’s helicopter he was travelling crashed due to bad weather.