Museveni wants Sudan off terrorism list

JUBA-President Yoweri Museveni has asked the international community to strike Sudan from the list of sponsors of terrorists.

In a speech read for him by the Prime Minister, Dr Ruhakana Rugunda, on Saturday in Juba, South Sudan, Museveni said removing Sudan from the dreaded list would enable the troubled country to recover from destruction.

Rugunda was speaking during an event to witness the signing of the Juba Peace Agreement for Sudan by leaders of the transitional government in Khartoum and various rebel factions that have mostly been operating in Darfur.  

At least 13 factions signed the agreement to end the 17 years of instability that has rocked Sudan, resulting in the ouster of President Omar Bashir.

"Uganda expresses support for the ongoing efforts to have Sudan removed from the list of State Sponsors of Terrorism (SSoT) in order to unlock the country's potentials through improved investments and productions to boost her economy for the wellbeing of her population," Rugunda said on behalf of Museveni.

"The Government of Uganda remains totally committed to the promotion of pan-Africanism as a key principle towards the ultimate objective of maintaining peace, security and economic transformation on the African continent," he added.

The Prime Minister delivered Uganda's appreciation to South Sudan President Salva Kiir for successfully mediating the peace process.
"His Excellency President Museveni also commends the region and all the international partners for supporting the peace efforts to reach this momentous achievement," Rugunda said.

"Uganda also expresses optimism that the governance and security issues agreed upon in the agreement will be fully implemented," he added.

He said the signing of the Peace Agreement was a positive development in the plan of the Transitional Government to bring an end to conflicts in Sudan, especially in the Darfur Region and the two areas of Blue Nile State and South Kordofan, which have been very devastating in Sudan since 2003.

More than 300,000 people have been killed and 2.5 million others displaced by the armed conflict there.

"Uganda wishes to commend the Sudanese stakeholders, including the Transitional Government, armed groups under the Sudan Revolutionary Front (SRF), Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) led by Malik Agar, Justice and Equality Movement (JEM), Sudan Liberation Movement led by Minni Minnawi (SLM-MM) as well as Political parties in the country, who opted for dialogue as the best way forward in achieving lasting peace, leading to the initiating of the 31st August 2020 Agreement," Rugunda said.

"Uganda appeals to Sudan Liberation Movement faction led by Abdel-Wahid Mohamed Nur (SLM-AW) and the SPLM-N led by Abdelaziz Adam al-Hilu (al-Hilu) to join the process to ensure inclusivity."

Efforts are already under way on the initiation of Sudanese Prime Minister Abdallah Hamdok to engage Abdelaziz al-Hilu to resume peace talks.

Kiir taunts ‘detractors'   
President Kiir on his part said the signing of the peace agreement was a sign of victory for not only Sudan but Africa as a continent. Kiir mediated the process on behalf of Intergovernmental Authority on Development countries.

"Today marks another milestone after the long and difficult negotiation process. We have pulled off this achievement despite our own difficulties," he said.

"A few could have imagined we would succeed. To our detractors, today's ceremony gives you answers. Challenges do not deter those who want to do good," he added.

However, Kiir said there was another difficult task ahead of implementing the peace agreement which called for unity and inclusion.
"I appeal to the international community and the Gulf Arab States to make good of the promise to support the peace implementation in Sudan. Sudan needs sufficient financial resources to help it recover from the destruction brought by the conflict," Kiir said.

He said back to his own country, the peace process was on track despite the slow pace. Kiir said allocation of leadership positions to different opposition groups in South Sudan was ongoing and legislative structures such as council of states were ongoing.

Kiir said efforts were also under way to turn the South Sudan People's Defence Forces into a joint unified force that accommodates all the factions' fighters.

Kiir and the secretary of the mediation team who is also investment minister for South Sudan, Dhieu Mathok, were awarded with the Leadership and Governance Award for their efforts to pacify Sudan.

The event was also attended by presidents and other representatives from Ethiopia, Somalia, Chad, Djoubti, Eritrea and Kenya as well as the UN among others.