Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has held a closed door meeting with his South Sudanese counterpart, Salva Kiir, during which the two discussed the imminent arms embargo against the world’s youngest country.
The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) is due to hold a vote today to determine whether to impose arms sanctions against South Sudan, arising out of a motion sponsored by the US. Previous efforts at sanctions have been thwarted by Russia, but given the deteriorating situation in South Sudan, it might be difficult for the antagonists to carry the day.
Meanwhile, media sources also indicated the two leaders Thursday held talks about the over three year conflict in South Sudan, with Mr Museveni reportedly calling for inclusive dialogue involving all belligerent factions.
The Ugandan leader whose visit to Juba was unannounced did not speak to the media on arrival and no immediate release was made after the talks he had with president Kiir.
But South Sudanese presidential spokesperson, Ateny Wek Ateny said discussions involving two leaders focused on bilateral relations between the two nations as well as the upcoming United Nations Security Council vote on an arms embargo due today.
Highly placed sources at the presidency said that the Ugandan leader informed president Kiir that the region wants him to implement key provisions in the peace agreement in order to resuscitate the agreement and move the country forward.
President Museveni, the source said, told president Kiir to extend dialogue to both the armed and non-armed opposition figures to make it a broad and inclusive dialogue.
“You know President Museveni is our strongest and longest ally in the region. He is more than just a brother and so he came to consult his brother and to provide some advises which I know will definitely be taken into consideration by our President,” the source said.
Museveni reportedly emphasized the need for inclusive dialogue and asked Kiir to allow the church lead the process so that everybody feels included and have the opportunity to participate and be represented in the recent calls for national dialogue.
Since 2013 South Sudan has been engulfed in a raging civil war pitting President Salva Kiir against his biggest political rival Riek Machar Teny, in which over a million people have been displaced both internally and externally, while thousands have reportedly been killed.
Meanwhile, it has been established that during the meeting Presidents Museveni and Kiir also discussed and agreed on how to pay Ugandans who supplied South Sudan with food items between 2008 and 2010 but are yet to be paid, amounts reportedly close to Shs365 billion.
