Kiir, Museveni eye diplomatic end to Sudan conflict

President Salva Kiir and his Ugandan counterpart, Yoweri Museveni, resolved to champion regional stability by using diplomacy to bring peace to war-torn Sudan.

Kiir flew to Uganda for a one-day visit for a discussion on matters of regional election and the implementation of the revitalized peace agreement, the Presidential Press Unit said in a Facebook post.

Upon his return, the PPU noted that the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation James Pitia said the discussion between the two leaders went well with resolutions cut out.

“The Principals expressed their commitment to restoring regional stability and pledged to double efforts aimed at resolving the Sudanese crisis through dialogue and diplomacy,” the PPU noted.

His travel came barely 10 days after Sudan’s Chairman of Sovereign Council Gen. Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan visited Juba and pledged the commitment to have the conflict resolved.

During the visit, the Sudanese Acting Foreign Affairs Minister Ali al-Sadiq said President Salva Kiir was best placed to mediate the conflict.

“We in Sudan feel that South Sudan is the best country to meditate the conflict in Sudan because we have been one country for so long and we know each other, we know the problems and we know our needs,” he said as quoted by PPU.

His sentiments were echoed by South Sudan’s Minister of Cabinet Affairs, Dr. Martin Elia Lomuro, who said “it was in the interest of South Sudan to find a solution to the crisis in Sudan.”

“It is known that President Kiir is the only person who has intimacy and knowledge about Sudan and can find a solution to the Sudanese crisis”.

Recently, four IGAD member states pursuing peace in Sudan also recommended a multiagency approach to resolving conflict.

The war broke in Sudan between the national army and Rapid Support Forces on April 15, 2023.