Sudan urges international action over “threats” posed by SPLM-N rebels
October 6, 2012 (KHARTOUM) – Sudan has urged the United Nations Security Council to act against the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement – North (SPLM-N) accusing the rebel group of threatening to hamper the implementation of security arrangements signed with South Sudan.
Sudan’s official news agency (SUNA), which reported the meeting on Saturday, said Sudan sent a message to the Security Council urging it to issue a presidential or a press statement demanding the rebel SPLM-N refrain from “any hostile acts that may hinder implementation of the agreements reached with South Sudan”.
Yasir Arman, SPLM-N secretary general demanded in a statement released on 28 September, to include his group in the operationalistion of the buffer zone stressing that his group “controls more than 40% of the Sudan international border with South Sudan in Blue Nile and Nuba Mountains”.
Khartoum refuses to negotiate with the SPLM-N over the Two Areas – South Kordofan and Blue Nile states – saying Juba has to cut first its ties with the former members of its army, the SPLA, which is now the regular army of the independent state.
SPLM-N and its Darfur allies in Sudan Revolutionary Front (SRF) alliance demand that Khartoum negotiate with the year-old group rather that holding talks individually, while insisting that only a regime change can allow to settle their disputes with the government.
Ambassador Rosenthal, during the meeting, underlined that the two Sudanese parties have to implement resolution 2046 which demands that the SPLM-N to engage in peaceful talks on the issue of South Kordofan and Blue Nile, and to cooperate with the African Union (AU) mediation.
Arman in his comments on the agreements inked by Khartoum and Juba, said his group is ready to sign a ceasefire with the government but linked the negotiations on the cessation of hostilities with the implementation of a humanitarian plan aiming to deliver food to the civilians in SPLM-N-controlled areas.
In comments he made following UN Security Council consultation meetings on Thursday 4 October, Ambassador Daffa-Alla renewed Sudan’s commitment to the tripartite (UN, AU, Arab League) humanitarian initiative but attributed the delay in the implementation to the international and regional partners.
(ST)