August 4, 2012 (LONDON) — South Sudan President Salva Kiir had to write an apology letter to U.S. President Barack Obama to explain him why he had to deny twice his support to the Sudanese rebels.
US officials publically demanded Juba to stop its support to the Sudanese rebel groups fearing that such behavior would empoison the strained relations between the two country and lead to an all-out war between the two countries affecting regional stability.
The issue of Juba support to Sudan people’s Liberation Movement – North (SPLM-N) rebels was raised twice by President Barack Obama personally with his South Sudanese counterpart, but every time Kiir lied, reported McClatchy, one of the largest US newspapers group, last Thursday.
“The problems began the first time the two leaders met, on the sidelines of the annual U.N. General Assembly meeting in September,” the McClachy said. The second time was “weeks later, during a follow-up phone call that was arranged to move past the September meeting.”
The White House was angered by Kiir’s persistent denial as Washington played an important role to secure the referendum on self-determination in South Sudan and backed the new nations up to the declaration of independence on 9 July 2011.
The American Administration had “strong intelligence” about the support that Juba is providing to the rebel groups, the report said.
Following the telephone conversation where he denied once again his support to the Sudanese rebels, Kiir sent a letter to Obama described as “apology letter”.
“In that letter, Kiir wrote that he did know about his military’s support to the Sudanese rebels, but he could not admit that to Obama because his advisers were in the room and they did not know he was aware of that support. Kiir said he was working to lessen the support.”
In a background briefingon the current African tour of U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Saturday 4 August, a senior State Department official said the issue of Juba support to rebel groups was raised by Hillary Clinton during her meeting of this week with President Kiir.
“The Secretary addressed it and encouraged there be an effort to resolve these kinds of issues,” the senior official said under the cover of anonymity.
He further said that “Salva Kiir did tell the Secretary that he wanted to be helpful to the government in Khartoum in helping them deal with the political issues in South Kordofan and Blue Nile and that he recognized the importance of having a stable and peaceful neighbor next to him.”
The senior official emphasised that they also asked Khartoum, which bas bad relations with Washington, to stop its support to proxy groups fighting against Juba government.
In November 2011, the White House Deputy National Security Adviser Denis McDonough flanked by Sudan’s special envoy Princeton Lyman where in Khartoum and Juba to demand to the two parties to stop backing rebel groups.
The negotiating teams from the two sides will meet next September to discuss the implementation of security arrangements and particularly a buffer zone that Khartoum refuses to operationalise unless the mediation removes a location called “Mile 14” from a map it proposes to establish it.
The rebel SPLM-N is also expected to engage political talks next month with Khartoum. Regional and international observers believe that the South Kordofan conflict complicated the settlement of unresolved issues between the two countries.
South Sudan’s ruling party, SPLM, seems more concerned by the fate of their former comrades of the SPLM-N despite its alleged support to Darfur rebels. The latter formed an alliance with the former and both demand a comprehensive process to discuss Darfur, Blue Nile and South Kordofan issues.
(ST)
http://www.sudantribune.com/South-Sudan-Kiir-apologises-to-US
“No Kiir Apology letter to President Obama”, information minister
JUBA, 7 August 2012 – The government has dismissed reports published in US based newspaper – MacClatchy that President Kiir had written a letter of apology to President Barack Obama allegedly for denying support to the Sudan People’s Liberation Army- North (SPLM-N).
The article written by one Alan Boswell claimed that President Kiir had written a letter to President Obama accepting support to the SPLM-N.
“In that letter, [President] Kiir wrote that he did know about his military’s support to the Sudanese rebels, but he could not admit that to Obama because his advisers were in the room and they did not know he was aware of that support”, claimed Boswell in his Thursday MacClatchy newspaper article.
“This is not true, there is no such a letter written by President Kiir to President Obama in regards to an apology”, asserted Dr Barnaba Marial Benjamin, the official government spokesperson.
Dr Benjamin addressing the press.
[Photo: Matata Safi]
Dr. Benjamen, who is also the minister for Information and Broadcasting in the government of the Republic of South Sudan, slammed the writer as being an enemy of peace.
“President Kiir has been always saying that we (government of South Sudan) are not supporting SPLM-N, the government’s position has always been that South Sudan through its President can only help if President Bashir takes an initiative for peaceful negotiations with the rebel in South Kordofan and Blue Nile as provided for by the Security Council Resolution 2046 but not to be involved militarily. No”, Dr. Benjamin told Sudan Radio Service in an interview on Monday.
He underscored the visit of the US secretary of state Hillary Clinton to Africa’s newest country. He went further to say that the relation between the two governments is very strong. He said a lot of developmental support related issues were discussed in the meeting of Clinton with President Kiir. He added that America has been with South Sudan and continues to be, particularly in helping to settle matters of dispute with Sudan.
Reported by Matata Safi
Alan Boswell Reacts