South Sudan minister travels to Zimbabwe to meet Mugabe
February 4, 2009 (HARARE) – South Sudan’s Minister of Regional Cooperation Barnaba Marial Benjamin arrived in Harare, Zimbabwe on January 28, a spokesman disclosed, meeting with President of Zimbabwe Robert Mugabe on the following day.
According to an official South Sudan press statement, Benjamin briefed the president on the current political situation in the Sudan, explaining difficulties in implementing the peace agreement signed in 2005 between the two main warring parties of northern and southern Sudan.
During the 22-year civil war in which the Sudan People’s Liberation Army came to power in South Sudan, the southern guerrillas received some arms shipments from Zimbabwe. The minister gratefully raised the issue with both Mugabe and Minister of Foreign Affairs Stan Mudenge, whom he had met the previous day.
The SPLA, which now forms the army of the semi-autonomous Government of Southern Sudan, is still largely deployed along Sudan’s north-south internal border. During meetings with both President Mugabe and Minister Mudenge, the South Sudan diplomat referred to current non-implementation of parts of Sudan’s Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), including demarcation of the north-south borders, transparency of oil revenues that are meant to be shared, and a disputed oil-rich area known as Abyei.
Benjamin and Mugabe discussed capacity building in various areas of training and development, through bilateral ties, and the Sudanese official also met with Zimbabwe Defence Forces’ Commander General Constantine Chiwenga, in which they discussed a recent visit from SPLA and discussed “how SPLA could be transformed into a modern army.”
Benjamin reiterated to the Government of Zimbabwe that in 2011 South Sudan will hold a referendum on whether to opt for independence.
Mudenge responded by expressing the commitment of the people of Zimbabwe to the people of Southern Sudan, and affirmed that Zimbabwe will always stand with the decision in respect of the 2011 referendum outcome.
The South Sudan minister was also greeted by other Zimbabwean officials, including the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Cde. Marumahoko, and was interviewed by the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC).
Zimbabwe faces serious economic problems, a food crisis and political conflict. A recent outbreak of cholera infected almost 66,000 people and killed more than 3,300.
(ST)
John Mou
South Sudan minister travels to Zimbabwe to meet Mugabe
Well Barnaba Marial,say thanks to the people of Zimbabwe for what they did to the people of Southern Suadn. However, make sure that the Government of Southern Sudan should not take foot steps of the dictator Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe. Mugabe in person is a dictator and a criminal and therefore, his selfish ideas should not be imported to our multilingual, multitribal and multicultural nation South Sudan.
Tong-Tong
South Sudan minister travels to Zimbabwe to meet Mugabe
The Nuer of Pan-Benjamin, as Dinka Rembek call them, is trying to progress the dream of his uncles Dinka. You are still confused, big boy, when you still calling the army of south sudan (SPLA). Just do the stealing of money of GoSS that your uncles train you to do and shut-up. Who is going to know you in Lou when you can’t even speak thok Nath, and your uncles are still calling you (Nuer-pan-Benjamin)? Choose one side, either a Nuer or a Dinka otherwise I will cut you heat off in the next war between Dinka and Naath.
Lodule
South Sudan minister travels to Zimbabwe to meet Mugabe
Mr. Barnaba,your move to Zimbabwe on bilateral relation surely defines your position as a Minister for Regional Co-operation.
The question here is,how will this move help strengthen your government? Zimbabwe,a country recovering from political chaos,economic crisis and a break down in the health system needs time to change its current status. I don’t think your visit to Zimbabwe will materialise.