Uganda: We never threw Amina under the bus
Uganda has refuted claims that it betrayed its East African region by failing to vote for foreign Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed to be the Africa Union Commission chair.
In a press statement issued by the Ugandan ministry of foreign affairs, the country reassured Kenya of its support stating that it has always supported Ms Mohamed’s candidature.
“This was premised on the fact that Uganda enjoys excellent bilateral relations with the sister country of Kenya and that Amb Amina Mohamed was an endorsed East African Community Candidate. Uganda therefore, rejects any baseless assertions by some sectors of the media questioning our commitment to the said candidature,” read the statement.
Reports that betrayal by Kenya’s neighbours led to the loss of the Commission chairmanship led to a reaction from Ms Mohamed that a quest would be launched to find out why neighbouring countries decamped to vote for other candidates.
RELIABLE ALLY
Uganda’s ministry denied reports that it was among the neighbours who betrayed Kenya adding that, “we remain a reliable ally and partner given our warm and close relations and our commitment to East African Community Integration.”
Ms Mohamed lost five of seven rounds of voting leading to Chad’s Moussa Faki Mahamat’s win as the new commission chairperson.
During her press briefing she questioned whether Kenya is seen as a threat or a friend adding that appearances can be deceptive.
Ms Mohamed said she believed the countries, which she did not mention, had other interests that made them look elsewhere at the hour of need.
“I think they were interests that we, as a country, we should not actually be pursuing. We are pretty comfortable with where we are because of the honest votes across the continent that we needed.As for the rest, I think there will be a lot of soul-searching and self-reflection going forward.”
