Kenya's Foreign Cabinet Secretary Dr Monica Juma. Kenya has denied
claims by a UN official that it is playing a negative role in the
conflict in South Sudan. FILE PHOTO | NATION
Kenya has denied claims by a United Nations official that it is playing a negative role in the conflict in South Sudan.
Foreign
Cabinet Secretary Dr Monica Juma criticised the UN Special Advisor for
Prevention of Genocide, Adama Dieng, over his claims that Kenya and
Uganda are aiding the transportation of arms to the Juba government.
“The
allegations by the senior UN official insinuating Kenya’s complicity in
trafficking large quantities of weapons and ammunition into South Sudan
are not only unfortunate and misguiding,” said Dr Juma.
She
said that Kenya and neighbouring countries who are the sponsors of the
2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) have had their patience tested
to the limit but have continued to soldier on without showing any signs
of fatigue.
“The situation in South Sudan remains
extremely complex and such unhelpful statements must be avoided at this
critical time in pursuit of a credible and all-inclusive peace process,”
she said.
Scrutiny
Kenya and Uganda have recently come under close scrutiny over
arms supply to South Sudan, with suspicions that they are a conduit for
arms through the port of Mombasa.
Rebel leader Riek
Machar’s side has previously blamed Kenya for co-operating with the Kiir
administration to abduct and deport their supporters to Juba — giving
the impression that Nairobi has taken sides in the ongoing conflict.
Dr
Juma said that Kenya remains committed to a peaceful resolution of the
South Sudan conflict and will continue to play its rightful mediation
role bilaterally and within the framework of Igad.
She
added that Kenya, as a guarantor of the Peace Agreement and a member of
the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission, continues to encourage
and support the South Sudanese signatory parties to implement the peace
agreement in good faith.
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