The Ugandan Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Henry Okello Oryem has ruled out military intervention in South Sudan, saying Kampala has no more interest in sending troops back to the war-torn country.
“We were misunderstood by the international community and all hell broke out – we were being accused of everything under the sun and being told to leave. We’ve told them we are not going to go back. Uganda has no more interest in sending its troops and boys to South Sudan,” he said. Oryem also said Uganda would reject any attempts at imposing South Sudan under UN trusteeship.
The Minister’s statement is a clear response to recent and past suggestions that the best way for the war-torn young nation would be to put it under a joint United Nations and African Union Trusteeship. He described the idea as ‘colonial mentality’.
“I don’t think it’s a good idea. That’s a colonial mentality. If an attempt was made to have trusteeship in South Sudan, then I think even the (Riek) Machar side would resist it and fight it,” Oryem said adding: “that’s an idea that should not be mooted.”
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni is a staunch supporter of South Sudanese President Salva Kiir and has publicly defended Kiir both military and diplomatically.
