Rebel leader reportedly turned away from entering Uganda

KAMPALA – A Sudanese rebel leader has reportedly been denied entry into Uganda with directives from President Yoweri Museveni over lack of willingness to pursue peaceful means with the Sudanese government to resolve grievances.

Sudan Tribune quotes unnamed high-ranking government security officials in South Sudan as saying that leader of Sudan Liberation Movement/Army (SLM/SLA-IO) Gen. Abdel Wahid Mohamed el Nur, had requested to reside in Uganda but had his requested denied with direct involvement of Museveni.

“Abdel Wahid Mohamed Al-Nur is using the conflict in Darfur, especially in the Jebel Mara area for business purpose. He is fighting for a genuine cause. He is becoming a conflict entrepreneur. He is using community members and the fighting as the cover for his illicit business activities in the Jebel area. He is now openly involved in illicit mining. He has actually forgotten the cause of Darfur,” Sudan Tribune quotes a senior security officer in Juba.

Another unnamed source said he was involved in the talk with President Museveni to allow the rebel leader to reside in Uganda, but had his efforts ended without his request being accepted by the Ugandan leader.

“In the diplomat and security services, a request stays for more than two weeks; it means the recipient is not interested in the visit. Al-Nur has made several attempts through our contacts, diplomatic channels and the good offices but the Ugandan leadership has not responded,” the source said.

Separately, a Ugandan diplomat in Juba said his country is not ready to support rebel groups in foreign country and that it was on that basis that al Nur’s request for a residence in the Ugandan capital Kampala rejected.

“This Sudanese guy called Al-Nur is a business man. He is a political leader because his approach is dogmatic. There is nothing like that in politics. Political leaders are flexible. They explore ways to finding a solution to the problem,” the unnamed diplomat said.

“There is now a window of peace being mediated by the president of the Republic of South Sudan General Salva Kiir Mayardit with the support of the region but this man is not utilizing this opportunity. He is not making proposals,” he added.