Taban Deng, head of delegation of the South Sudanese opposition forces at the Addis Ababa talks, has called on Uganda to withdraw its forces from South Sudan saying that their presence will complicate the peace process.
Deng, an ousted governor of Unity State, was speaking at a press conference at 6:00 p.m. at the Sheraton Hotel in Addis Ababa yesterday, in the presence of both delegations as well as the Ethiopian Foreign Minister Seyoun Mesfin, who heads the mediation on behalf of the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD).
“Special envoys, we have a concern that a member country of IGAD, Uganda, have decided to invade my country. This is a concern we want to voice because we are concerned about peace,” said the ex-governor.
He was referring to the military support that Uganda has lent to President Salva Kiir. The announced purpose of the Ugandan mission is to evacuate citizens as well as help ‘defeat’ Riek Machar if the latter does not accept a ceasefire, President Yoweri Museveni said during a visit to Juba on 30 December.
The army has also taken part in securing the Nimule-Juba road, at the invitation of the South Sudanese government, Uganda Monitor reported 28 December. However, a witness who drove the road yesterday said that he saw no UPDF forces.
Other witnesses told Radio Tamazuj they saw Ugandan People’s Defense Force in Juba yesterday. A correspondent said that he saw about ten big lorries in Konyo Konyo market mounted with infantry leave from Juba across the bridge at midday.
Other Ugandan troops were seen are posted at the Ugandan Consulate, and they were previously also seen at the airport. Sightings of Ugandan aircraft more than a week ago at the Bor front could not be confirmed.
Taban Deng says the “involvement of Uganda in my country is going to complicate peace to us as people of South Sudan.”
“We really appeal to our brother in Uganda to stop what they are doing, because it is not going to help us if they are really brothers,” he added.
On the other hand, the former governor and ally of Riek Machar did not go so far as to question the role of IGAD: “We believe IGAD should continue in the drivers’ seat.”
Related coverage:
Kiir under pressure to release 9 detainees in exchange for ceasefire (7 Jan.)
Uganda sends forces to help Salva Kiir ‘defeat Machar’ (30 Dec.)
Photo: Negotiator for the South Sudanese opposition Taban Deng Gai at a press conference in Addis Ababa, 7 January 2014 (Reuters)