20110121
BuaNews

Pretoria — President Jacob Zuma has pinned his hopes on the upcoming African Union meeting in Ethiopia next week to defuse the unfolding political crisis in Cote d'Ivoire.

Political rivals Laurent Gbagbo and Alassane Ouattara have been at loggerheads since a disputed second round presidential election in Cote d'Ivoire in November last year, bringing that country to a virtual standstill.

Both the UN and AU have since come out in support of Outtara, who is widely believed to have won the poll.

On Friday Zuma said he was hoping a solution would be found soon. He called on the AU to discuss the matter with both leaders.

"We are hoping that the AU will be able to resolve the matter and convince the parties ... our view is that we need to do something to help the situation and don't demand that one leader should go," Zuma said.

He was speaking following his meeting with Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, who is on a two-day state visit to South Africa.

Zuma broke his silence on the Cote d'Ivoire electoral system, questioning why two leaders were declared winners in the first place. "I am saying that there have been discrepancies in the system and the manner [in which] the issue was handled," he said.

But both Zuma and Museveni agreed that a political solution similar to that of South Sudan was needed to bring about political stability in Cote d'Ivoire.

Pretoria would further support any recommendation of the AU to prevent any outbreak of violence in resolving the standoff between Gbagbo and Ouattara.

South Africa and Uganda have, meanwhile, signed several agreements in the area of agriculture, public works and infrastructure, social development and energy.

Zuma said the agreements on social development would enable the two countries to collaborate in areas such as HIV and Aids, highlighting home-based care and prevention.

"This agreement, which will elaborate additional areas of cooperation, is envisaged to step up the fight against HIV and Aids in both countries". Uganda is said to be among the few African countries which have had considerable success in dealing with HIV and Aids.

The memorandum of understanding on public works and infrastructure development includes cooperation on research and exchange programmes for built environment, professionals such as artisans, architects and engineers.

South African exports to Uganda amounted to R1.2 billion and imports from Uganda to R155 million in 2009.

South Africa's commercial footprint in Uganda includes the country's leading telecommunications company, MTN Uganda, retail firms Shoprite and Game Stores and Stanbic Bank Uganda, a subsidiary of Standard.