State House Uganda has announced “cordial” talks with the South Sudanese rebel group SPLM-in-Opposition, calling the talks “a parallel process but complementary to the ongoing IGAD peace process in Addis Ababa.”
For their part, SPLM-IO say they are “encouraged” by the talks with the Ugandan government and urge the Ugandan government to pressure the South Sudanese government to return to the IGAD negotiations in Ethiopia.
This comes after three days of talks between a delegation led by SPLM/A-IO Vice-Chairman Alfred Lado Gore and a Uganda Government Peace Support Team led by the Senior Presidential Advisor on Security and Defence, Caleb Akandwanaho Salim Saleh.
Uganda has troops stationed in Jonglei and Central Equatoria states of South Sudan and has been fighting on the side of SPLA-Juba, the forces loyal to President Salva Kiir.
The Ugandan troops played a key role in halting a rebel advance on Juba in January and retaking the town of Bor.
SPLM-IO has been demanding that Uganda withdraw its troops from South Sudan, but the Ugandan government maintains that it will not pull out until regional IGAD forces deploy to take their place.
Photo: SPLM-IO and Ugandan government representative in Kampala (Photo courtesy of Mabior Garang)