Two South Sudanese youths arrested at Khartoum airport: official
March 19, 2012 (JUBA) – An official from South Sudan’s Eastern Equatoria State (EES) has condemned Sudan government for allegedly arresting and unlawfully detaining two youths at Khartoum international airport last Saturday.
The duo, according to CEPO, are currently being detained in military barracks located in the outskirts of Khartoum.
Reacting to the arrest, Paul Napwon, Eastern Equatoria’s deputy speaker strongly rebuked the act, saying Khartoum’s actions simply demonstrated its discontent after losing grip of South Sudan oil resources.
South Sudan became independent in July last year as part of a 2005 peace deal, taking with it 75% of the country’s oil production. Disputes over how much Juba should pay Khartoum in transit fees led to South Sudan halting production completely in February.
“Khartoum did not accept the oil shutdown,” Napwon said.
The deputy speaker, echoing the views of civil society activists, called for immediate intervention by the South Sudanese government, African Union and the Arab League to ensure that the two are released from detention.
NORTH-SOUTH RELATIONS
Post-independence talks on oil and many other issues have borne little fruit. However, last week the two sides signed a deal on borders and reached an understanding that their citizens can enjoy “freedom of residence, freedom of movement, freedom to undertake economic activity and freedom to acquire and dispose property”. A joint committee from Khartoum and Juba will meet to write details of the ’Four Freedoms’.
Sudan President, Omer Hassan al Bashir is expected to visit Juba, the South Sudan capital to hold talks with his South Sudanese counterpart, Salva Kiir on a wide range of post-independence issues in the next few weeks.
The meeting has been welcomed by Ban Ki-moon, the United Nations Secretary General, and is seen as essential to progress on a host of issues.
However, a coalition of South Sudanese civil society groups have called for the arrest of the Sudanese leader, wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for war crimes and crimes against humanity allegedly committed in Darfur.
A senior politician in South Sudan’s ruling party has suggested to Sudan Tribune that Addis Ababa, where the negotiations are being held, may be a better location for the talks.
Should Juba not receive Bashir it would be a major diplomatic snub, especially as Kiir visited Khartoum for talks in October and it was widely assumed that the visit would be reciprocated.
(ST)