From: Biniam Haile \(SWE\) (eritrea.lave@comhem.se)
Date: Sun Oct 26 2008 - 07:32:00 EST
Accusations of weapons delivery could harm Sudan-Kenya ties: Envoy
Monday 27 October 2008 04:10.
October 26, 2008 (KHARTOUM) - The Kenyan ambassador to Sudan once again
dismissed Khartoum accusations that his government was involved in
weapons delivery to southern Sudan. He further said that these
allegations could harm bilateral ties.
Sudan alleged that Kenya is involved in weapons delivery to Southern
Sudan government via the Ukrainian ship seized off the Somali coast. The
foreign ministry summoned the ambassador of Kenya to Sudan on October 13
regarding arms shipments to southern Sudan.
Ambassador Robert Mutua Ngesu told reporters today that the hijacked
weapons by the Somali pirates are belonging to the Kenyan army and have
noting with southern Sudan army.
Ngesu further said that Khartoum should stop such accusations because it
could deteriorate bilateral relations between the two countries. He
further said that Kenya is very keen to the political stability of its
northern neighbour.
This week the Sudanese government decided to send a law level delegation
to attend an Inter-Government Authority on Development meeting to be
held in Nairobi. The Vice-President Ali Osman Taha was planned to head
the delegation.
The meeting will discuss the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace
Agreement which was sponsored by the Kenyan government. The Sudanese
decision was seen as an escalation of the controversy on the hijacked
Ukrainian ship.
Somali pirates hijacked on September 25 a Belize-flagged ship "Faina" as
it neared the Kenyan port of Mombasa carrying a cargo of 33 Soviet-type
T-72 tanks, grenade launchers and ammunition.
American and Sudanese military source said that the ultimate destination
was southern Sudan and that Kenya was only the transhipment point.
However, Kenya asserted that the seized weapons belong to Kenya's armed
forces.
Also the Sudanese minister of energy Zubair Ahmed Al-Hassan cancelled a
visit to Kenya to finalise an oil purchase deal last week.
Al-Hassan was to be in Nairobi to sign an agreement with his Kenyan
counterpart, Kiraitu Murungi that would have seen Kenya start importing
oil at a cheaper rate from Sudan. Kenya had already signed a memorandum
of understanding with Sudan over the purchase.
(ST)
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