Sudan says it furnished evidence to Kiir on Juba’s support to rebels

May 13, 2013 (KHARTOUM) – Sudan’s ruling National Congress Party (NCP) has disclosed that it had furnished senior officials in South Sudan including president Salva Kiir with detailed information on their government’s support to anti-Khartoum rebels prior to their recent attack in north and south Kordofan states.

The NCP’s spokesperson Yasser Yousef, who spoke following a meeting of the party’s political sector, called on Juba and its army to stop aiding rebels in Sudan, stressing that maintaining good relations between the two countries is contingent upon implementation of the cooperation agreements, especially ones relating to refraining from supporting and harbouring rebel groups.

Yousef, affirmed that information published by National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) yesterday on South Sudan’s government support for the rebels has been handed over to South Sudan’s leadership.

The NISS said that Juba provided rebels from Sudan revolutionary Front (SRF) with weapons, ammunition, vehicles, housing and medical care.

But South Sudan on Sunday dismissed these claims.

“There is no single truth in these allegations. The government of the Republic of South Sudan has always been clear on these unfounded allegations. We have said time and again that South Sudan does not provide any support to any rebel. We believe in peaceful coexistence with our neighbours,” said South Sudan information minister, Barnaba Marial.

Yousef, further renewed support for the armed forces, and called for negotiating with the rebels after defeating them militarily on the ground, saying “all Sudanese efforts must be combined to achieve that goal”.

He pointed out that President Kiir’S imminent visit to Khartoum is aimed at following up on the implementation of the cooperation agreements including maintaining secure borders and enabling functioning of verification mechanisms in order to disarm rebels and sever their relations with South Sudan.

President Kiir intends to visit Khartoum for the first time since October 2011 to witness delivery of the first oil shipment to international markets through Sudanese territory.

(ST)

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