President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has said the fighting between the government army and paramilitaries in Sudan is senseless, a misuse of force, and should stop immediately.
In a statement issued on Sunday after attending the emergency virtual 40th Extraordinary Assembly of IGAD’s Heads of State and Government on the situation in Sudan, the fighting undermines the progress made in the past months of dialogue, President called for the unconditional and immediate cessation of hostilities to stop the tragedy and mockery of Africa.
“We cannot keep papering over the mistakes of unprincipled politics year after year. An unconditional and immediate cessation of hostilities to stop the tragedy and mockery of Africa is of utmost importance,” Museveni said.
“Barring any other illegitimate aim in causing instability, the apparent sticky issue of the time required to implement the merging of warring factions into the national army is one that can be determined scientifically, considering known and/or agreed-upon parameters such as health, education, training, or the age of personnel. Using this as an excuse to fight is wrong,” he said.
Museveni noted that fighting in a populated Khartoum will see many people die, yet this could have been avoided.
“Should there be an absolute need to fight, it is irresponsible to place such action in a populated area such as Khartoum. This should stop immediately as it places a heavy burden on the people and the future.”
“The ultimate arbitration on political issues and determination of governance should be brought back to the people in an election.”
President Museveni has previously advised military leader Abdel Fattah al-Burhan to organize elections in Sudan.
Fighting broke out late last week between the Sudan army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) as a climax of deepening tensions between military leader Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and his number two, paramilitary commander Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, over the planned integration of the paramilitaries into the regular army.
At least 56 people have been reported to have been killed and many others injured during the fighting, whereas several other installations in the capital, Khartoum, have been destroyed.