Museveni Seeks to Resolve Abyei Crisis

Mercy Nalugo

23 May 2011

Uganda is concerned that the escalating situation in the oil-rich region of Abyei between South Sudan and the Bashir administration in the north could result in a fully-blown war and compromise peace efforts in the region.

As a result, government yesterday confirmed that President Museveni is engaging heads of state who are guarantors of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement between the two states in a bid to contain the escalating conflict between North and South Sudan over the contested oil rich border town of Abyei.

The outgoing state minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Okello Oryem, told Daily Monitor on Sunday that President Museveni was working around the clock for quick solutions to the conflict where South Sudan has threatened war.

“Salva Kiir (South Sudan President) was here last week and had talks with the President on the situation. The President is also consulting other heads of state who are guarantors of the CPA to see how they can help to defuse the tension,” Mr Oryem said.

Uganda, Kenya and Ethiopia are among the states that backed a ceasefire agreement that was signed between North and South Sudan.

Sudan’s northern army has in the past days taken control of the disputed oil rich and fertile Abyei region and is clearing it of armed forces from the South. South Sudan has also denounced as an act of war the takeover of Abyei by the North Sudan Forces.

SPLA routed

A southern military spokesman Raphael Gorgeu told the BBC Khartoum had attacked the area with 5,000 troops, killing civilians and southern soldiers which to them was a breach of the ceasefire agreement.

South Sudan is due to become independent in July, but Abyei’s status remains to be determined after a referendum on its future was shelved.

The UN has called for an end to fighting between the two sides.

President Museveni said during his swearing-in ceremony in Kampala last week that Uganda will import crude oil from South Sudan’s Abyei region in order to curb the soaring prices of fuel. He said he would negotiate with both the Juba and Khartoum governments to import the crude and have it refined in Uganda.

Mr Oryem yesterday expressed fears that the conflict might escalate into war in the region where Uganda would be affected. “Well, any conflict in the Great Lakes Region cannot be taken in isolation.

When dealing with diplomacy one has to look at the issue in a broad context but the conflict would have a direct bearing on Kenya and Uganda because it would result in refugees fleeing here and a possibility of people with weapons taking advantage of the situation,” Mr Oryem said yesterday.

The army on the other hand said they are monitoring the situation and ready to quell any likely insurgence.

The army spokesperson, Lt. Col. Felix Kulaigye, said any threats to peace in South Sudan have a direct impact on the neighbouring states.

“But we are capable of handling whatever will come out of the conflict,” Lt. Col. Kulayige told Daily Monitor on Sunday.

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