President Yoweri Museveni has called on African leaders to respect borders in order to avoid unnecessary conflict.
The President, who is on a two-day state visit to Saudi Arabia at the invitation of His Majesty King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the custodian of the two Holy Mosques, said this while meeting the Secretary General ofOrganisation of Islamic Cooperation, Dr Iyad Ameen Madani who called on him at his residency in the King Saud Palace, in Riyadh.
The President noted that there has always been a cold war between Somalia and Kenya stemming from the borders, which has resulted into unprincipled conflict, which the African Union does not condone.
”There has always been a cold war between Somalia and Kenya but we always said; respect the borders wherever they are, since you found them there,” he said, referring to the stand of the African Union.
Mr Museveni was responding to Dr Madan’s comment on the OIC’s interest in the development and humanitarian situation in war torn African countries like Somalia and South Sudan.
President Museveni, however, told his visitors that he will take the issues to the African Union so as to allay fears by Somalia regarding border conflicts with Kenya.
He suggested that Somalia be helped to acquire road equipment so as to open their murram roads and repair the tarmac ones in order to improve transport as well as enable the army to keep security in the country.
On tribalism, President Museveni said that that NRM has been successful because of her non-sectarian policy where prosperity, pan Africanism and patriotism are given precedence over identity.
“If your identity is not attacked why don’t you emphasize prosperity,” he said.
The OIC Secretary General Dr. Madan suggested that observers be sent to South Sudan to monitor the peace process, an idea that president Museveni also supported.
Meanwhile, President Yoweri Museveni has held bilateral talks with Saudi Crown Prince HRH Prince Mohammed bin Naif Al Saud bin Abdulaziz.
The Crown Prince, who is also the Minister for Interior Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, paid a courtesy call on the President at his residency in the King Saud Palace in Riyadh.
