Gadaffi to visit Kampala for AU talks
Oct 05, 2009
<b>By Cyprian Musoke<br></b><br>LIBYAN leader Col. Muammar Gadaffi is expected in Uganda to chair the African Union (AU) summit on refugees from October 19 to 23.
By Cyprian Musoke
LIBYAN leader Col. Muammar Gadaffi is expected in Uganda to chair the African Union (AU) summit on refugees from October 19 to 23.
According to the tentative programme, Gadaffi is expected to address the special summit of heads of state and government on the plight of refugees, returnees and internally displaced persons in his capacity as AU chairman.
Sources at the Libyan embassy in Kampala confirmed that Gadaffi is on the programme but declined to give details.
“There is no reason why he shouldn’t come since he is the chair of the AU. But no one can commit himself on his travels,†a senior official said.
President Museveni held a meeting with Gadaffi in New York last month during which they agreed that traditional leaders should stay out of politics.
The meeting followed allegations that Gadaffi was using the kingdoms to undermine the NRM Government and boost his bid to become the first president of a united Africa.
A source in the foreign affairs ministry said over the weekend that about 10 heads of state would attend the summit, although confirmation was only expected in the last week.
“It is too early to confirm as their national obligations are susceptible to abrupt adjustments,†the source said.
Among those who have expressed interest is Sudanese President Omar Bashir who is seen as a key stakeholder since most refugees in Uganda are Sudanese.
Bashir, who is indicted by the International Criminal Court, stayed away at the Smart Partnership conference in Kampala in July to avoid a possible “diplomatic incident.â€
As a signatory to the Rome Statute, Uganda is obliged to arrest and hand over suspects indicted by the ICC.
Uganda currently hosts about 155,400 refugees, most of them from Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Most of the 57,300 Sudanese refugees arrived during the North-South civil war, which started in 1983. Following the signing of the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement, the UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) began repatriating some of them. However, most have remained in Uganda, with some having established permanent residences here.
The summit will come up with a declaration that will tackle the causes of the continent’s 17 million refugees and internally displaced.
“The outcome of the summit will be an AU convention for the protection and assistance of internally displaced persons in Africa,†said the Minister for Disaster Preparedness, Tarsis Kabwegyere.
Uganda received $350,000 from the UNHCR to host the summit, which is expected to cost over $2m.
LIBYAN leader Col. Muammar Gadaffi is expected in Uganda to chair the African Union (AU) summit on refugees from October 19 to 23.
According to the tentative programme, Gadaffi is expected to address the special summit of heads of state and government on the plight of refugees, returnees and internally displaced persons in his capacity as AU chairman.
Sources at the Libyan embassy in Kampala confirmed that Gadaffi is on the programme but declined to give details.
“There is no reason why he shouldn’t come since he is the chair of the AU. But no one can commit himself on his travels,†a senior official said.
President Museveni held a meeting with Gadaffi in New York last month during which they agreed that traditional leaders should stay out of politics.
The meeting followed allegations that Gadaffi was using the kingdoms to undermine the NRM Government and boost his bid to become the first president of a united Africa.
A source in the foreign affairs ministry said over the weekend that about 10 heads of state would attend the summit, although confirmation was only expected in the last week.
“It is too early to confirm as their national obligations are susceptible to abrupt adjustments,†the source said.
Among those who have expressed interest is Sudanese President Omar Bashir who is seen as a key stakeholder since most refugees in Uganda are Sudanese.
Bashir, who is indicted by the International Criminal Court, stayed away at the Smart Partnership conference in Kampala in July to avoid a possible “diplomatic incident.â€
As a signatory to the Rome Statute, Uganda is obliged to arrest and hand over suspects indicted by the ICC.
Uganda currently hosts about 155,400 refugees, most of them from Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Most of the 57,300 Sudanese refugees arrived during the North-South civil war, which started in 1983. Following the signing of the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement, the UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) began repatriating some of them. However, most have remained in Uganda, with some having established permanent residences here.
The summit will come up with a declaration that will tackle the causes of the continent’s 17 million refugees and internally displaced.
“The outcome of the summit will be an AU convention for the protection and assistance of internally displaced persons in Africa,†said the Minister for Disaster Preparedness, Tarsis Kabwegyere.
Uganda received $350,000 from the UNHCR to host the summit, which is expected to cost over $2m.