Sudan summons UK, US envoys to explain detention of diplomats aboard UNMIS flight
June 17, 2011 (KHARTOUM) – Sudan’s ministry of foreign affairs on Thursday summoned the UK and US envoys in Khartoum to explain the brief detention of their subordinates in Juba by the country’s army in an area located on the ill-defined borders between north and south Sudan, Sudan official news agency, SUNA, has reported.
The UK consul in Juba and the political officer of the US consulate in Juba happened to be among the passengers of UNMIS flight and were, therefore, detained and transferred to Khartoum, SUNA reported.
The news agency went on to say that Sudan’s ministry of foreign affairs on Thursday summoned Nickolas Kay, UK ambassador in Khartoum, and Robert Whitehead, Chargé d’ Affaires of the U.S embassy in Khartoum, to explain that UNMIS flight had arrived in the area without “following the standard procedures of obtaining a permission from the authorities.”
The undersecretary of the ministry of foreign affairs held UNMIS responsible for “its error which resulted in impounding the flight and its passengers pending investigations into the nature of the mission it was conducting in the area,” as quoted by SUNA.
An official from the US embassy in Khartoum has declined to comment on the issue when reached by Sudan Tribune, saying that the dispute involves UNMIS not the embassy. Attempts to reach UNMIS for comment were not successful.
However, the Spokesman for the UN Secretary-General, Martin Nesirky, said on a press conference in New York on Friday that the helicopter had obtained flight clearances from the Government of Southern Sudan in Juba.
(ST)
Madut Tong
Sudan summons UK, US envoys to explain detention of diplomats aboard UNMIS flight
If this is one of the contested areas why would SAF be there any way, is it that they have also invaded and occupied that area. I think negotiation concerning the border areas will not succeed if the GoS don’t respect the regulations of border demarcation. negotiating any border needs the two parties to cool down and talk, but it seems that the NCP and SAF doesn’t respect their counterpart the SPLM and the SPLA which will make things complicated in the future for these two neighboring countries which have a long history of being together. I would therefore like to say to any person who love this region either northerner or southerner to work hard by talking to their respective governments to resolve the border issues without either of them occupying any contested area.
Cibaipiath Junub Sudan
Sudan summons UK, US envoys to explain detention of diplomats aboard UNMIS flight
Who is the foreign Minister by the way to summon UK and US envoys when they SAF actually detained the UNMIS flight? Do Khartuom still think that their brutality and attitude towards westerners are not known. Just because, these Westerners are supporting the Seperation of the exploited, marginalised and oppressed People of the South Sudan? The entire world will not accept more exploitation. NCP and SAF should not respect what is documented in the CPA. Bashir should abuse it. It is time for peace and Political freedoms. Give everybody their freedoms, rights and all in all respect their land. No need for you Bashir to kill people in their own land.
Ghai-nyanthy
Sudan summons UK, US envoys to explain detention of diplomats aboard UNMIS flight
Khartoum should thing twice again.That flight is a regional flight which was cleared in Juba by the authorities of state .The question is why should SAF be in the contested regions? Was it in the CPA?