Obama dispatches adviser to Sudan for talks on Abyei

June 1, 2011 (WASHINGTON) – The United States appeared to step up its effort to contain the crisis in Sudan in the wake of the military escalation in the country which led to the takeover of a contested area by the Northern army.

Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) sent tanks and troops into Abyei pushing out Southern units but in the process also caused the displacement of 60,000 people according to United Nations estimates.

The Sudanese president Omer Hassan Al-Bashir unilaterally dissolved the Abyei administrative council without consulting with his First Vice President Salva Kiir who is also the head of the soon to secede South Sudan government.

Bashir declared that Abyei belongs to the North and rejected international calls for withdrawal. However, other government officials indicated that SAF could withdraw on the condition that new arrangements be reached with the South.

The White House said today that president Barack Obama’s assistant on Homeland Security and Counterterrorism John Brennan met in Khartoum with Sudanese officials to discuss implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) signed between the North and South more than six years ago.

“Mr. Brennan underscored President Obama’s deep concern over the continued presence of Sudanese Armed Forces in Abyei and urged a rapid and peaceful resolution to the crisis and to resolving outstanding CPA issues,” said the White House statement

“U.S. Special Envoy Lyman will remain in the region to work with the African Union, United Nations and the parties to urgently address this crisis. This trip reflects the President’s personal commitment to a peaceful resolution of the problems that have beset the region over the last several decades.”

The United States has warned last month that the SAF takeover of Abyei would impact Sudan’s imminent removal from the list of countries that sponsor terrorism.

“In his meetings with Sudanese officials, Mr. Brennan discussed the status of the ongoing review of Sudan’s inclusion on the State Sponsors of Terrorism list and the importance of counterterrorism cooperation against al-Qa’ida and affiliated groups,” said the statement.

Johnnie Carson, the U.S. assistant Secretary of State for African affairs, said Brennan went to Khartoum “primarily” to discuss efforts to delist Sudan as was promised last year in return for recognizing the results of the South Sudan referendum.

“The United States condemns the offensive operations being undertaken by the Sudanese Armed Forces in and around Abyei town and the presidential decree dissolving the Abyei administration. The actions being taken by the Government of Sudan are blatant violations of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement of January 2005, and they threaten to undermine the mutual commitment of the CPA parties to avoid returning to war,” Carson said.

“We call on President Bashir and First Vice President Salva Kiir to meet immediately and to agree on a way forward that restores calm, upholds the CPA, and recommits both sides to negotiated political settlements on the future of Abyei” he added.

The top US diplomat for Africa said that Sudan’s removal from terrorism designation is at risk because of the recent crisis in Abyei.

“The review and the basis for taking them off of the list are defined legislatively. And that will be the most important guidepost. They have to meet the legislative requirements for being taken off of SST, but there is no doubt that the events of the last several weeks do undermine people’s confidence in the commitment to follow through on the roadmap that was laid out some months ago,” Carson said.

(ST)