By George Murumba

27^th Dec 2010

Gen. Aronda

The strained diplomatic relations between Khartoum and Kampala sunk to new depth last week when the Chief of Defence Forces Gen. Aronda Nyakairima warned Bashir’s north Sudan that Uganda would support Salva Kirr’s south Sudan if the referendum on its independence is obstructed.

The south is widely expected to vote for secession amid fears that Khartoum, which is campaigning for unity, may not accept the results.  Nearly half a century of intermittent civil war between north and south Sudan ended in 2005 when the two sides signed the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, which provided for a referendum vote on the independence of south Sudan in January 2011.

The diplomatic row caused Sudan to summon the Ugandan charge de affaires in Khartoum, Mr Nelson Kasigiri, to question him on the veracity of the threats issued against Khartoum by Gen. Aronda.

“…The referendum is coming, should it go the other way, we shall not tolerate Sudanese planes bombing Moyo and Adjumani districts again.  If the referendum results get positive as expected, we shall be interested to say to Khartoum, goodbye”, Gen. Aronda is reported to have said.

The Sudanese ambassador in Kampala, Hussain Awad Ali, expressed Khartoum’s fury over the general’s statement, terming them as an awkward interference in Sudan’s internal affairs.  “…How can a senior army officer interfere in the internal affairs of a sovereign country where there is no territorial claim by either country on the other’s side? It’s really an astonishing statement”, Mr. Ali said.

Foreign Affairs Permanent Secretary James Mugume however said the situation had been resolved after they explained to the Sudanese ambassador that Nyakairima was “quoted out of context”.  END. Please log into www.ugandacorrespondent.com every Monday to read our top stories and anytime mid-week for our news updates.