IGAD minister launch platform for cross border peace

October 15, 2013 (KAMPALA) - Ministers from South Sudan, Uganda, Kenya and Ethiopia have in a meeting in Kampala agreed to set up a cross border platform that aims at promoting border security and peace in the ‘‘ Karamoja Cluster’’ regions.

The cluster comprises of south western Ethiopia, north western Kenya, parts of south eastern South Sudan and north eastern Uganda.

The areas although located in different countries face a common problem of inter-tribal raids, marginalisation, remoteness, under development and insecurity.

In the Kampala meeting held on Monday, the ministers resolved to ‘‘launch a ministerial forum on harmonizing cross-border peace, security and development’’ in the regions.

The meeting was co-hosted by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and the office of Uganda’s first lady and the minister of Karamoja affairs, Janet Museveni.

In a statement on Monday IGAD said ‘‘experts and members of parliament (from the regions) tabled for the ministers’ consideration a set of innovative solutions that could support the speeding-up of attaining peace, security and development across the cluster’’.

The ministers endorsed the proposals from the experts, according to the statement.

South Sudan’s Foreign Affairs Minister Benjamin Marial, Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary of Ministry of Interior and Coordination, Ole Lenku and Omod Obang, the state minister of Federal Affairs of the Ethiopia, were among the officials who attended the meeting.

(ST)