Museveni calls for free and fair elections in Sudan

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | President Yoweri Museveni has called for free and fair elections in Sudan.  Museveni said that political actors must rely on numbers and not tribes to win if it is to achieve unity and end the current political crisis.

President Yoweri Museveni made the remarks on Thursday while meeting General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the Chairman of the Transitional Sovereignty Council of Sudan.

“What is important is to have fair elections. Elections force people to unite to get numbers. Holding elections disciplines politicians, they are forced to make alliances to win elections since there is no tribe that has got more than 40 percent to win elections. It is also important to have a neutral interim government,” he said.

Al-Burhan was in Uganda on a one-day official visit at the invitation of Museveni. He was accompanied by a delegation of ministers and other senior government officials.

On the bilateral relationship, President Museveni said the best thing is for the Joint Permanent Commission to meet and agree on what to do to improve trade between the two countries.

“We can export tea, coffee, etc. We now have a direct airline that can promote trade,” he said.

Both leaders agreed to reactivate the meetings of the Joint Ministerial Commission and Joint Political Consultative Committee and directed the ministers responsible for Foreign Affairs to convene the 7th Session of the Joint Ministerial Commission; and the 5th Session of the Joint Political Consultations Committee, as soon as possible.

On the relationship between Ethiopia and Sudan, President Museveni said if there is peace in Africa, the problem of fighting over water would be solved saying the continent is gifted with large water sources including the Congo River. He said each second the Congo River pours 1,200,000 cubic feet (34,000 cubic meters) of water into the Atlantic Ocean compared to Ethiopia’s Blue Nile waters which flows at an annual 3.85 billion cubic meters from Lake Tana, which can be exploited.

Al-Burhan congratulated Museveni upon his successful re-election as the President and commended him for his outstanding leadership on matters of peace, security, and stability in the region and the socio-economic transformation of Uganda.

“We wanted to update you on the current situation in Sudan and consult with you on prospects and way forward using a chain of bilateral and multilateral relationships. You are very respected by the people of Sudan and appreciated for the leadership of your people. You have managed to lead your country and develop it,” Al-Burhan said.

He also invited President Museveni to visit Sudan in the near future an invitation which he gladly accepted.

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