NCP denies discord over Addis Ababa deal as SPLM warns against scrapping it
July 3, 2011 (KHARTOUM) – The ruling National Congress Party in North Sudan dismissed on Sunday suggestions of any in-party discord over the framework agreement it signed with the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) in the north on new security and political arrangements in the war-battered state of South Kordofan.
“We order the armed forces to carry on its operations and not to stop until South Kordofan is purged as Abyei was purged before, and Abdel Azizi is arrested and brought to trial,” Al-Bashir told a gathering of citizens following Friday prayer at a mosque in Khartoum.
North Sudan’s army known as the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) has been fighting elements aligned with the opposition SPLM in South Kordofan state since early June. The fighting escalated into artillery and aerial bombardment by SAF, resulting in the displacement of more than 70,000 people, according to UN figures.
The Addis Ababa agreement stipulates the NCP’s recognition of the right of the South Sudan’s ruling SPLM to continue as a legal political party in the north despite previous assertions by NCP hardliners that the SPLM would not be allowed to exist in the North after secession.
The agreement also acknowledges that SPLM’s fighters in South Kordofan are Northerners and should therefore be integrated into SAF. It further stipulates that the two parties should start talks on an agreement to cease-hostilities in the state.
The NCP’s political secretary Al-Haj Adam Yusif announced on Sunday that the party had formed a committee to consider remarks expressed by the party’s leadership over the framework agreement. He said, according to Sudan official news agency SUNA, that the remarks would be communicated to the party’s negotiating team before it starts the new rounds of talks.
Adam denied any “contradiction” between what was agreed in Addis Ababa and the president’s instruction for the army to continue its operations against “the rebellion” in South Kordofan. Adam pointed out that the agreement does not contain any provisions of a truce on the ground.
The NCP official went on to defend Al-Bashir’s description of Al-Hilu as a “rebel,” saying it is “true considering that he [Al-Hilu] resorted to war in South Kordofan.”
Adam further suggested that the military situation in South Kordofan is somewhat detached from the political negotiations.
“We are now talking in political terms, the agreement is political and has no relation with the military affairs,” he said. “We in the NCP talk only on the political side, the military side concerns the armed forces.”
Adam stressed that the SAF was the only body authorised to use arms to confront rebel forces, and that the president in his capacity as a commander-in-chief had the right to issue directives for the army to do whatever necessary to safeguard the lives of citizens in South Kordofan.
In the meantime, the SPLM claimed its forces had achieved major victories on the ground and inflicted great losses on SAF and its allied militias in South Kordofan.
Gamar Dalman, the media adviser to the SPLM’s chairman in South Kordofan, on Saturday said that SPLM forces on Thursday achieved its “biggest victory” over SAF since the war broke out in early June.
According to Dalman, SPLM forces inflicted great losses on SAF in Kahliat area to the west of Kadugli, the state’s capital. Dalman went on to claim that the SPLM had seized six vehicles and large amounts of ammunitions whereas SAF fled the area leaving behind 83 killed soldiers.
The SPLM’s spokesman regretted Al-Bashir’s order for continuation of military operations in South Kordofan, saying that Al-Bashir’s “unhelpful” statements shows that he is “frustrated” and proves a state of division within the NCP.
Meanwhile, the SPLM’s northern sector’s secretary-general Yasir Arman has warned against reneging on Addis Ababa agreement, saying that those trying to persuade the government to scrap the agreement and hit with a fist of iron were “playing with fire.”
“There are voices in Khartoum against this framework agreement, those voices are playing with fire,” Arman told a press conference in Khartoum on Saturday.
The veteran SPLM figure further warned that the only alternative to this framework agreement is “a war that runs from the Blue Nile to Darfur.”
Anti-SPLM media in North Sudan have been scathingly criticizing the Addis Ababa agreement, saying it gave the SPLM too many concessions.
Arman expressed confidence that the agreement would be implemented and reach its logical conclusion of a cease-fire in South Kordofan.
He further disclosed that the Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zinawi and the AU moderation team led by Thabo Mbeki were considering sending a private jet to transport Al-Hilu from the field in South Kordofan to Addis Ababa.
Arman said that the SPLM’s delegation was ready to sign an agreement on cessation of hostilities immediately.
(ST)
Akech
NCP denies discord over Addis Ababa deal as SPLM warns against scrapping it
“NCP but think over day then night” My advise to pliticians in Khartoum better watchout from Beshair, Bershair is looking for people to accompany him to Huge.
I look at Khartoum soon and sooner going to fire.
Akech
NCP denies discord over Addis Ababa deal as SPLM warns against scrapping it
SPLM in North Just last then a week and you will success that regime in Khartoum.
Keep on stuggle for better future of Kordofan, Blue Nile and Darfur people.
Akech.
Cibaipiath Junub Sudan
NCP denies discord over Addis Ababa deal as SPLM warns against scrapping it
Those whom you are pretending to protect are they one you are killing. There is no way Bashir shall use two arms “Politics and Army”. He is Bashir who shall account for all these atrocities happening in the land of the Black. Do What ever you want to do but after 50 years you shall see that you will be the slaves of the black in this land. There will be no mercy or word of “Akuana”.
Dau Mawut
NCP denies discord over Addis Ababa deal as SPLM warns against scrapping it
I am encouraging All Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) leaders and members Who are in Northern Sudan (South Kordofan and Blue Nile) not to give up.Keep on Signing so many agreement as WE DID before.
Albino Kuel
NCP denies discord over Addis Ababa deal as SPLM warns against scrapping it
HAHAAAAAAAAAA,
All ways from Juba? Nothing will be like before,we are to change and not to be change again.
Kuel Madut in Lietnhom,GEC
Yale
NCP denies discord over Addis Ababa deal as SPLM warns against scrapping it
As governor Malik said,”if the government of Sudan will try to disarm spla in Blue nile state, as they did in Nuba mountains, the same thing might happen in Blue Nile State”. I personally the statement made by the Governor of Blue Nile and I hope he will stay by his comment.
BuBa
NCP denies discord over Addis Ababa deal as SPLM warns against scrapping it
I like the statements made by the SPLM northern sectors’ Governor Malik Agar and Yasir Arman. Blue Nile State must be prepared to retaliate if the NCP continues with same attitude.
jacob mayen ajuoi
NCP denies discord over Addis Ababa deal as SPLM warns against scrapping it
I also like they statements made by our northern sectors,Al Bashir ‘s abigs Alair we are very ready for the talk and if Bashir trying to joke this time we are going to retaliate prior.