President Kiir Speech at the AU Peace and Security Council
Statement to the African Union Peace and Security Council Heads of State and Government Meeting on Sudan and South Sudan
H.E. Gen. Salva Kiir Mayardit, President, Republic of South Sudan
January 25, 2012
(as delivered)
Your Excellency President Mwai Kibaki, Chairman of the African Union Peace and Security Council
Your Excellency, Chairperson of the AU Commission, Madam Dr. Dlamini Zuma
Your Excellencies Heads of State and Governments and
Members of the African Union Peace and Security Council
Distinguished Guests
Ladies and Gentlemen
Allow me to congratulate all member states for fifty years of existence as the Organization of the African Union. I also congratulate and welcome our Chairperson, Dr. Zuma for assuming her responsibilities in October 2012.
I would like to thank the African Union Peace and Security Council for convening this forum to discuss the situation between South Sudan and Sudan. While South Sudan continues to take concerted steps on the path of state and nation building, the differences with our neighbor Sudan continue to create instability in our country. This also hinders the realization of the vast potential of both nations.
I remain optimistic and confident that our vision of two viable states living side by side in peace and mutual security is indeed attainable. But it must also be reiterated that this is only attainable if both states are committed to honoring and implementing agreements that they sign. Furthermore, the continuous support of the African Union will be critical to our success.
Your Excellencies:
The cause of peace and stability for both South Sudan and Sudan has always been on the forefront of the African Union Agenda. This proclaims to the world that Africa is indeed investing in its own future by solving African problems.
This great institution must take pride in what it has accomplished on the continent and seize the opportunity to continue to make major decisions, particularly in matters of Sudan and South Sudan. This will help the two countries to build on their success and develop cooperation and mutual viability. We need you as wise leaders of our continent to help our two countries to avoid a return to the conflict.
Your Excellencies:
I would like to take this opportunity to update you on the issues that continue to hinder peace, stability and cooperation between South Sudan and Sudan.
On April 24, 2012, the Peace and Security Council established a roadmap in their Communiqué, which both states accepted. The Roadmap was also adopted by the United Nations in Resolution 2046 on May 2, 2012.
South Sudan immediately implemented the roadmap unconditionally. We took major steps to ensure full compliance with the Communiqué and Resolution 2046. We were prepared to resolve all outstanding issues including:
- oil and related payments
- the border demarcation, including the status of disputed and claimed areas
- the status of nationals of the other state and
- the final status of Abyei
Regrettably, Sudan refused to comply with the roadmap and UN Resolution 2046. Instead, the Republic of Sudan continued with aerial bombardments along our northern border. And this provocation continued into 2013. The Republic of South Sudan has chosen not to respond in kind. However, we are obligated to defend our territorial integrity and the lives of our citizens.
Your Excellencies:
After months of fruitless negotiations, the deadline for reaching agreements passed without any conclusion and President Mbeki was forced by this situation to request additional time for the states to come to an agreement.
Following the extension, President Bashir and I convened three time in September 2012, January 2013 and today. These meetings resulted in the signing of the Cooperation Agreement. I wish to make a few points regarding these agreements:
- In September 2012, the AUHIP presented us with a proposal on the final status of Abyei. The Government of South Sudan accepted the proposal unconditionally. But it was rejected by the Government of Sudan.
Consequently, in October, President Mbeki presented the proposal to the AU Peace and Security Council for adoption, which the council accepted.
In December, the AU Peace and Security Council then determined that the issue of Abyei must be resolved at the level of the Heads of State of this Council. We have exhausted the issue of Abyei for seven years. This issue does not require further negotiation but rather swift adoption and implementation of the AUHIP proposal for the final status of Abyei.
- After we signed the cooperation agreement, both national assemblies ratified them, and arrangements to begin oil production started. However, progress was halted because Khartoum placed new conditions on the agreement; refusing to allow oil to flow through their territory unless new security arrangements were implemented. With this position, Sudan has clearly obstructed the resumption of South Sudan oil exportation.
- The Roadmap and the UN Resolution 2046 clearly stipulate that there must be a resolution to the disputed and claimed areas. In our January Summit, I urged my bother President Bashir that we needed to resolve the disputed and claimed border areas. Sudan insisted that the AU Panel of experts should only deal with disputed areas and define the border. After the definition of the disputed areas, then claimed areas could be addressed. Clearly this is a tactic to include the claimed areas as part of their territory. I urge the council to mandate the panel of experts to give opinion on both disputed and claimed areas. If any areas remain claimed or disputed, they should be referred for international arbitration.
Your Excellencies:
Since the independence of South Sudan, South Sudan has been honored to be a member of the African Union.
We are deeply grateful for the generous and tireless efforts of this body and its distinguished leadership to help us resolve peacefully and through dialogue outstanding issues with the Republic of Sudan.
But if this body is to be effective in accomplishing its mission of supporting the peace and development of this great continent and if this body is to bring peace and stability to member states now and in future endeavors, the agreements it brokers and oversees must all be respected.
Your Excellencies:
I call on this august House to uphold your Communiqué and UN Resolution 2046 and urge Sudan to comply without any conditions and without any further delay. I call on this august House to adopt the AUHIP proposal regarding Abyei without further delay.
Your Excellencies:
We have upheld our side of these agreements. Sudan has not. Sudan continues to dishonor the agreements that they signed in the presence of the African Union. In many ways we are back to where we started from. If there is to be progress, the cycle of negotiation cannot continue indefinitely. We must shift from rhetoric to action. This is critical in order for us to deliver prosperity to the citizens of our two countries.
The Republic of South Sudan has already made our choice very clear. It is the choice of peace for Africa and the choice of two viable states, respecting each other’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and engaging in the common pursuit of sustainable development and in accordance with the international law. With your support, we can achieve all these things your Excellencies.
Thank you.
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