Sudan sends delegation to Uganda for talks

By Ahmed Kateregga

A Sudanese parliamentary delegation is in Uganda to try to defuse tension between the two countries.

A source at the Sudanese Embassy said that the delegation includes the chairperson of the parliamentary committee on foreign affairs Ahmad Abdulrahman Muhammad and a member of the committee Mr. Mahdi Ibrahim Muhammad.

It has not been established whether the delegation's visit was sanctioned by the Bashir government.

 The delegation arrived in Uganda on Saturday and is scheduled to meet Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga this morning.

Efforts to talk to the Sudanese Ambassador and his deputy on Sunday were futile. But a source at the embassy said, that the delegation is also scheduled to interact with Uganda's Committee on Foreign Affairs.

The Chief of Defence Forces Gen. Aronda Nyakairima recently said Joseph Kony and his Lord's Resistance Army remnants had sneaked into Bahrezl Ghazal State in South Sudan and that Khartoum, had resumed giving them supplies. Khartoum denies this.

Khartoum is also accusing Uganda of giving sanctuary to Justice and Equality Movement rebels operating in Darfur.

Khartoum is currently engaged in skirmishes with the South Sudan. Uganda is seen as a close ally of South Sudan.

Sudan's Minister of Foreign Ali Karti was recently quoted by the Sudan media as saying that his country won't accept mediation that involves Uganda.

The minister said they will therefore not accept mediation by IGAD due to the presence of Uganda in the mediation.