Khartoum urges South Sudan’s Kiir to implement security deal as he accuses it of scapegoating

November 20, 2012 (KHARTOUM) – Sudan’s ruling National Congress Party (NCP) has demanded that South South’s President Salva Kiir Mayardit demonstrates enough seriousness in implementing a security deal between the two countries as the latter accused Khartoum of using Juba as an excuse for its defeats in fighting Sudanese rebels.

NCP official spokesperson, Badr Al-Din Ahmad Ibrahim, reiterated Khartoum’s position that the border security deal must be implemented first saying it is the cornerstone for implementing all other agreements signed in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa on 27 September, including the one on resuming South Sudan oil exports via Sudan.

Ibrahim said that the oil deal leads to economic interests but will not lead to stability. He further accused South Sudan of continuing to support Sudanese rebel groups, mainly the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement North (SPLM-N).

Talks between the two countries on how to implement the border security deal, which provides for the establishment of a buffer demilitarized zone along the 1800-km common border, collapsed last week over demands by Khartoum that Juba severs its alleged ties to the SPLM-N which has been fighting the Sudanese government in the country’s border regions of South Kordofan and Blue Nile since last year.

South Sudan president Salva Kiir Mayardit confirmed on Tuesday that his country has delayed preparations to resume oil exports via Sudan after Khartoum made new demands in security talks.

“We were supposed to resume oil production on November 15, five days ago. Suddenly Khartoum people changed their minds, saying we must denounce the Nuba Mountains and Blue Nile,” Kiir said in an address to supporters and reporters in Melut town in the oil-producing Upper Nile state, as reported by Reuters.

“The people (of Khartoum) are looking for an excuse for their defeat in Nuba Mountains and Blue Nile,” Kiir said.

The NCP spokesperson said that Kiir must show enough seriousness in implementing the deal by issuing instructions to expel armed groups and stop supporting the “northern sector” in reference to the SPLM-N.

He added that Kiir must order the field commanders of South Sudan’s, known as the SPLA, to sever ties with their former comrades-in-arms, and communicate to them that the deal is signed by South Sudan as a country not as a group.

“The ball is now in the South [Sudan] court. If [Juba] wanted to implement the deals seriously, Sudan will be ready [to do the same].”

Plans to establish a buffer zone have been hampered by recent escalation of fighting between the government and the SPLM-N, which controls parts of the borders.

(ST)