Sudan, Uganda agree to open new page in bilateral ties

Sudan and Uganda on Wednesday agreed to open a new page in their bilateral ties and work to overcome all barriers which overshadow the relationship between Khartoum and Kampala.

The two sides issued a joint communique at the conclusion of the Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni's two-day visit to Khartoum, during which he held talks with his Sudanese counterpart Omar al-Bashir focusing on a number of bilateral and regional issues.

"The two presidents agreed to invest in this important visit and to start afresh in their relations by surpassing and overcoming all difficulties, impediments and tensions that tend to overshadow their relations," said the joint communique.

The two sides further welcomed the agreement that has been reached to end the fighting in South Sudan and expressed concern and keenness to prevent a relapse into war in that country.

Al-Bashir and Museveni further underscored the necessity, and reaffirmed their will to mobilize and consolidate African efforts aimed at encountering unsubstantial and politically motivated allegations by the International Criminal Court (ICC), which does not enjoy universal recognition and utilized by some western forces as a pawn targeting aspiring African nations and leaders.

In the meantime, al-Bashir and Museveni held a joint press conference Wednesday where they reiterated identical viewpoints of the two countries.

"Our viewpoints were identical on all bilateral and regional issues, particularly with regard to the developments in South Sudan, Libya, Somalia and other African issues,' said al-Bashir at the press conference.

President Museveni noted that the two sides have agreed to open a new page in their relations, saying "we have agreed on mutual investments with each other's country so as to get prosperity for our peoples through production and exchange of goods and services."

President Museveni arrived in Khartoum on Tuesday in a rare visit, 12 years after his last visit to the country. Enditem