Addis Ababa, January 29, 2014 (SSNA) — Norwegian foreign minister Borge Brende has on Wednesday said Uganda should begin withdrawing its soldiers from the conflict-hit south Sudan.
Brende’s comment comes just six days after the “cessation of hostilities” was signed in Ethiopia by South Sudan’s opposing factions.
"It is now important that President Museveni of Uganda starts the process of reducing and later pulling out the Ugandan troops that are in Juba and surrounding areas”, Foreign Minister Borge Brende told Reuters news agency.
Brende appealed to the Sudanese president Omar al Bashir not to intervene militarily and also asked the neighbouring countries not to do anything that could jeopardize the peace efforts.
"I also appeal to President (Omar Hassan) al-Bashir of Sudan to refrain from any kind of intervention”, he said.
"We also have to make sure that all the neighboring countries play a very constructive role and refrain from any kind of action that can add to the crisis”, he added.
Peace talks will resume in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, on the 7th of February 2014.
Regional observers believe that Uganda’s military involvement in South Sudan could further escalate the conflict. Uganda has already admitted that its troops are fighting alongside South Sudanese government forces.