Museveni for 25th IGAD summit in Ethiopia

By Vision Reporter

ADDIS ABABA - President Yoweri  Museveni is in Ethiopia to attend an IGAD Extraordinary African Heads of State summit on South Sudan in the capital Addis Ababa.

The summit is expected to iron out the obstacles in the ongoing peace process between the government of South Sudan and the rebels of former Vice President Dr. Riek Machar.

Ex-deputy Machar declared a rebellion against the government after a failed coup attempt mid-December last year.

Fighting between the warring parties in Africa’s youngest nation has led to the death of many people, with displaced people fleeing the country in thousands.

East African leaders will meet starting today in the Ethiopian capital to discuss the details of the proposed stabilization and protection force.

Uganda deployed a contingent of its troops in South Sudan after the outbreak of violence in the country on December 15 last year to guard strategic areas like the airport and also to oversee the evacuation of its nationals.

President Museveni was seen off at Entebbe International Airport by the minister for security Muruli Mukasa.

Others at the airport were John Mitala (the head of Public Service), Maj. Gen Turyagenda Samuel (Commandant Air Force), Johnson Byabasaija (the Commissioner for Prisons) and others.

When he touched down at Bole International Airport in Addis on Wednesday, Museveni was received by the Ethiopian Chief of Protocol Mehreteab Mulugeta.

Others who welcomed him were Uganda's minister of foreign affairs, Sam Kutesa; Uganda’s minister of State for defence, Gen. Jeje Ogongo and Uganda's Ambassador to Ethiopia and the African Union Ambassador, Mull Katende.

MP Nabirye Agnes of Jinja and Nelson Sabira of Bukwo, together with Deputy Ambassador Idule Amoko and Uganda's Military Attache Brig. Fred Torit also received the Ugandan statesman.

IGAD will review the progress in the implementation of previous pacts reached by South Sudan’s warring rivals.

According to reports, also expected to feature on the agenda of the IGAD summit is the situation in Somalia – especially after the attack on Villa Somalia last month.

The next round of talks between the warring parties in South Sudan is expected to resume on March 20.