South Sudan closely monitoring military takeover in Central Africa
March 30, 2013 (JUBA) – South Sudan said Saturday it is closely monitoring the security situation in the neigbouring Central Africa Republic (CAR) following a military takeover last week, raising fears that the instability could spill over into its African neighbours.
Rebels led by Michel Djotodia, a former civil servant, seized power last week in a coup against the then president Francois Bozize. Djotodia, who has installed himself as the new head of state, said on Friday that he would review deals over resources signed by the previous government and has promised to step down after elections are held in 2016.
The CAR shares a border with Sudan’s western Darfur region and the South Sudanese states of Western Equatoria and Western Bahr el Ghazal. South Sudan, which seceded from Sudan in July 2011, is yet to properly demarcate the majority of its borders with Sudan, as well as its other neighbours.
Ongoing border disputes with Sudan have prevented the new nation from clearly defining its often porous and un-demarcated borders with countries like CAR that are currently riven with conflicts.
“We have been closely monitoring [the] current security situation there, especially at our borders. The situation could simply get out of control if it is not monitored properly and carefully. It may slip toward the spiral of a vicious cycle”, Barnaba Marial Benjamin, South Sudan’s minister of information, told reporters.
The government spokesperson said his country has put the military on “maximum” alert, as well as coordinating with the African Union (AU) to control the situation.
He also praised the “adequate, collective reaction” of the AU, which, in line with its code of conduct, does not automatically recognise all coups or attempted coups that become a cause of concern.
“This was why the [African] Union swiftly condemned the military takeover and demanded the immediate restoration of the legitimate, constitutional and democratic institutions. This demonstrates that the African leaders do not tolerate such unconstitutional assumptions of powers. This was a clear message which everybody has found”, he explained.
(ST)