South Sudan not satisfied with the African Union mediation of disputes…As Obama urges South Sudan restraint
Obama urges South Sudan restraint
(AFP) –
WASHINGTON — US President Barack Obama on Monday urged South Sudan in a telephone call with the young nation’s leader to show restraint following heavy border fighting with Khartoum’s forces.
In a call to US-backed South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir, Obama “expressed concern about the growing tensions” between the two nations including border clashes and bloodshed in Sudan’s Southern Kordofan state.
“President Obama underscored the importance of avoiding unilateral actions, and asked President Kiir to ensure that South Sudan’s military exercises maximum restraint and is not involved in or supporting fighting along the border, particularly in Southern Kordofan,” a White House statement said.
Obama pressed the two nations to reach an agreement on oil production. South Sudan took the drastic decision to halt its production in January after Sudan started to seize crude due to a payment dispute.
Obama also voiced hope that Kiir would soon meet with Sudan’s President Omar al-Bashir after last week’s clashes prompted Khartoum to call off a summit.
“President Obama welcomed President Kiir’s commitment to moving forward with a summit and to finding peaceful solutions for Sudan and South Sudan,” the White House said.
Bloody clashes including airstrikes, tanks and heavy artillery — the worst violence since South Sudan’s independence in July — had raised international concerns the former civil war foes could return to all-out war.
Fears are also growing about food shortages in Southern Kordofan, where humanitarian groups say a relentless bombing campaign by Khartoum has severely hampered agriculture.
Sudan has pinned the blame for the crisis on South Sudan, saying that it is arming ethnic insurgents in Southern Kordofan who are affiliated to what is now Juba’s leadership.
South Sudan: Sudan’s bombing of South Sudan scares away US, Chinese oil investors
“We will not be dragged into a senseless war,” he said.
Benjamin also complained that the African Union is not doing a satisfactory job mediating talks with Sudan. South Sudan is disappointed by an AU report to the U.N. Security Council that Benjamin said portrayed his country as the aggressor in hostilities between the two countries. He suggested that a regional bloc known as IGAD take over.
The seven-nation IGAD — the Inter Governmental Authority for Development — negotiated the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement that ended a decades-long civil war between Sudan and South Sudan. That deal led to South Sudan’s secession from Sudan last year.
Among the unresolved issues from the split is the demarcation of the border and an agreement to share oil revenue.
Benjamin said South Sudan shutdown its oil production because Sudan had stolen million barrels of oil and increased oil transit fee through its pipeline to $36 a barrel. Benjamin said it was better that South Sudan’s oil stay in the ground.
Benjamin said that South Sudan will construct two pipelines — one to Kenya and one across Ethiopia into Djibouti. Benjamin said the South Sudan is also seeking international loans in order to fill in the budget deficit caused by the shutdown in oil production.
He said the despite the bombings South Sudan still would welcome Sudan President Omar al-Bashir to meet with South Sudan President Salva Kiir. A meeting scheduled between the two for Tuesday was canceled by Sudan.
| Sudan, South Sudan Agree to Overcome Tension CRIENGLISH.com Sudan and South Sudan negotiators agreed in Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa to overcome the standing tension between the two countries and calm the situation militarily and politically, Sudanese media reported Monday. Khartoum’s Al Ray Al Am daily … |
||
|
| South Sudan: We are not satisfied with the African Union mediation of disputes … Washington Post NAIROBI, Kenya — The government of South Sudan says it is not satisfied with the mediation role of the African Union in resolving its disputes with Sudan. South Sudan government spokesman Barnaba Marial Benjamin said Monday that South Sudan is … |
| Sudan Proposes AU Monitors On Borders With South As Battles Continue AllAfrica.com Khartoum — The military tensions on the borders of north and south Sudan clearly reflected in a failed attempt made today in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa to bring delegations from the countries at the negotiating table. |
| South Sudan rebels kill SPLA general and two colonels Sudan Tribune Gatwec Gai because he was a colleague of SSLA operation commanders when they were part ofSouth Sudan Defense Force (SSDF) from 1997 to 2006. Brig. Gen. Gatwec joined the SPLA after Paulino Matip signed Juba Declaration on January, 9, 2006. |
| S. Sudan says Sudan still bombing, won’t be dragged to war Reuters By Yara Bayoumy | NAIROBI, April 2 (Reuters) – South Sudan said on Monday Sudanese forces were still bombing regions in the oil-producing area straddling their border, but insisted it would not be dragged into war. South Sudan’s Information Minister … |
| Sudan, South Sudan accuse each other of attacks, talks delayed Chicago Tribune ADDIS ABABA/KHARTOUM (Reuters) – Sudan and South Sudan on Sunday accused each other of launching attacks in the oil-producing area straddling their border after talks aimed at ending the worst hostilities since Juba declared its independence were … |
|
|
||
|
||
| South Sudan, Sudan trade new accusations as talks start Malaysia Star By Yara Bayoumy and Aaron Maasho NAIROBI/ADDIS ABABA (Reuters) – South Sudan and Sudan began talks on Monday aimed at easing military tensions, but both sides’ continued accusations of attacks by the other left little hope for a peaceful outcome. |
||
| On refugees and settlers Ynetnews In the framework of its Passover preparations, the government decided to expel 1000 asylum seekers to South Sudan later this week. The decision was made after the Foreign Ministry ruled that South Sudan is a safe place where the expelled refugees would … |
||
| Security Apologies to Newspaper Journalists Expelled From SPLM Meeting AllAfrica.com Juba — A senior security officer on Sunday said the expulsion of Sudan Tribune journalist, Ngor Garang, from covering the last day of National Liberation Council (NLC) of South Sudan’s ruling Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) was unintentional … |
Voice of America
April 02, 2012 Sudan/South Sudan Trade Barbs as Tense Security Talks Open Peter Heinlein | Addis Ababa Sudan and South Sudan are trading harsh words as their defense ministers meet with African Union mediators for talks on improving security along …
About Post Author
