Sudanese President Omar el Bashir will on Monday join a group of regional leaders in Uganda for talks on the South Sudan conflict, a top foreign affairs official said on Saturday. James Mugume, the permanent secretary, ministry of foreign affairs, told reporters at State House, Entebbe, that President Bashir will join Uganda president, Yoweri Museveni, Kenya’s president, Uhuru Kenyetta and Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn to discuss the political crisis in the neighboring South Sudan. “He (Bashir) has been invited for heads of state meeting on regional issues at State House, Entebbe. We expect him to join them on Monday to discuss the crisis in South Sudan and how to end it,” said Mugume. Kenyetta arrived in Uganda on Saturday, while Desalegn and Bashir are expected to arrive on Monday. Mugume said Bashir’s visit to the East African country will not cause “diplomatic incident” because of International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrants for his alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity.” AU (African Union) has a different position (not cooperating) on ICC. We respect and abide by it. We have no obligation to arrest him,” said Mugume. Bashir is being accused by ICC for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Sudan’s Darfur region. AU in October 2013 opposed the ICC criminal proceedings against the sitting president, saying it infringes on the nation’s sovereignty.
