April 12, 2012 (KHARTOUM) – The African Union and United Nations urged South Sudan to pull out its army from contested Heglig area after its seizure by on Tuesday in a joint operation with Sudanese rebel groups.

They also called on the two parties to deescalate the current tension and to resolve their difference through negotiations.

Sudanese officials accuses Juba of attacking jointly with the Sudan Revolutionary Front (SRF) the positions of its troops inside its 1956 border stressing they both work to overthrow Khartoum’s regime. Juba says it seized Heglig after air and ground attacks by the Sudanese army insides its territory.

" The African Union, urged the two parties to cease hostilities stressing it "notes with alarm the occupation of Heglig by the armed forces of the Republic of South Sudan, and calls for their immediate and unconditional withdrawal."

The spokesperson of the South Sudanese army Philip Aguer rejected on Thursday the AU call for the withdrawal of SPLA troops stressing that Heglig belongs to South Sudan.

In New York, Ban Ki-moon also issued a statement urging the both sides to "immediately to cease hostilities, remove their forces from each others’ territory and avoid further bloodshed."

On Wednesday, Ki-moon held a telephone conversation with the South Sudanese President Salva Kiir to discuss the situation.

"The Secretary-General advised that before undertaking a discussion on the causes of the escalation, the immediate priority is to de-escalate the situation to avoid any further blood shed," said Martin Nesirky, the Spokesperson of Ban Ki-moon.

The UN chief also discussed the tensions between Sudan and South Sudan with US Secretary of State Clinton in Washington and spoke by telephone also the Ethiopian Prime Minister who chair the IGAD, Nesirky, added.

The UN Security Council is expected to issue a presidential statement urging the cessation of military activities and dealing with the seizure of the Heglig.

(ST)

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12 April 2012 09:54, by $iong mayom

Where was AU and UN from 1983-2005 when Beshir was slaughtering Innocent South Sudanese?. Just continue keeping your heads in the sand plz.
- 12 April 2012 10:15, by Mi diit
  
  So called AU and UN should study the situation before giving poor verdict. Where were they when Khartoum continued to bomb South Sudan and occupy our lands. Heglig belongs to South Sudan. Our leaders should explain it clearly.
- 12 April 2012 10:15, by Santino Akot
  
  A.U and UN chief don’t see or hear went, the Northern Sudan invade abyei and bombardment of Southern Sudan. So, Please, Stop telling Southern Sudan to withdraw. AU or UN should a shame by South Sudan to withdraw.
  
  Unless this organisations are moblised by Northern Government to both joint hands and fight Southern people. otherwise, stay out of this. Let’s Northern Sudan send his Jihad immediately
- 12 April 2012 10:43, by Morthon Akol
  
  My dear, I do agree with you. to ask UN amd African Union that why you did told Khartoum to withdraw from Abyei?and others areas in South Sudan. if general Bashir really need peace between to countries Republic of South Sudan, engaging them for the peaceful talk sine 2005 untill now but they are not willing to do so.now they suspended talk with South according to their parliament.
  - 12 April 2012 15:00, by okucu pa lotinokwan
    
    Akol you are very correct when Khartoum invaded Abyei in Jun-2011,where are the AU,UN,and other international community,today SPLA regained its terrtory from Khartoum occuption in 2008,AU,UN and other starting talking prokhartoum,how can these international community judge things or we the South Sudanese we look to them like Monkey
    
    OKUCU PA LOTINOKWAN
  - 12 April 2012 21:37, by Ruach
    
    The Jallaba!People who don’t respect the owners of the lands.Did God create u like others?Arabs
12 April 2012 09:59, by Deng

where was AU, UN during illegal Abyei invasion? this is the same shit they said during SAF invasion of Abyei. Urging is not sufficient to cause effect..Bravo SPLA. Hold Heglig for ever regardless of AU and UN weak approach.
- 12 April 2012 10:07, by Mou
  
  Philip Panyang should take the name Panthou and drop it on the table of AU and UN instead of them repeatedly calling it Heglig. This is a strange name from visitors in the North.
  
  Panthou or Tor Aliny must retain its original name then fake new and unsoundful name.
  
  I wish Arabs learn that Bashir is not fighting for them but for himself from ICC outreach.
12 April 2012 10:03, by RUMBEK ONE

The decision made by UN and AU is a bullying mentallity thwarted by lack of judicial capacity.
Where was UN/AU when Abyei was invaded by these treacherous Arabs? Or is Ban-Ki Moon telling us to refer to the wise saying that’ If you quarrel with a monkey, donot call Baboon to be your judge’

South Sudanese and their properties are African and will never be any kind. Panthou and Abyei are ours.
12 April 2012 10:09, by Deng

Rembek One...hahahahah..I like your saying

If your quarrel with a monkey, do not call a Baboon to be your judge, that is absolutely right. AU and UN was unable to settle Abyei issue so why would SPLA listen to them? Bravo SPLA!!!. Let them take our old position because we love peace before until the extend where we are burn out completely. now lets show NCP our Capacity as a nation.SPLA oyee.
12 April 2012 10:11, by Northern Sudanese

lol south sudanese please dont pull out...... the party has just started and our turn didn’t come yet........please stay where you are i beg you and wait for what is underway :D
- 12 April 2012 14:09, by Makavelli
  
  I don’t thing you know anything about war because it not a matter of party. You’re no where near Sudan otherwise you will be farting like those MPs who’re shitting themselves in Khartoum. read between the lines my friend, the tide has changed it flows. it’s blowing dusts toward Khartoum. SRF is not joking and SPLA is not joking either so don’t think about party my friend but think regime change.
12 April 2012 10:12, by eye-of-an-eye

Funny to hear withdrawal from AU and Moon, where were they when same happen to Abyei by SAF, where are they in fraquent bombardment of civilian in our teritories, favouring criminals is a crime, we wil never take any step back, we are going forward to secure other remain teritories same way, patience is enough, negociation will be after complete victories. no more blindness
12 April 2012 10:14, by Lango2010

why now asking the SPLA withdrawal Without addressing the Route cause of the takeover of Panthou (Heglig) sudan took Abyei by force and refuse to respond to the call for withdrawing his Troop and no action was taken against them by UN and AU. let them test it now. if it mean withdrawing of troops let them evacuate Abyei first or stop aggressing the South Sudan Territories.
12 April 2012 10:28, by upuzi

South Sudan needs to keep on reminding the UN that the agressor is Sudan. They need to push their case at the UN Security Council. Forget about African Union, that consist of a bunch of poor countries that can be easily intimidated by the Sudanese government. We all know that the AU has done little if any to support Southern Sudanese be it before the signing of the CPA or after signing the CPA.
12 April 2012 10:30, by RUMBEK ONE

The international community should not always be biased in their ruling or if they intend to create another havoc, then there will be no need of their presence in our territories. I thought UNSC will empathsize the current ailing humanitarian situation in Blue Nile, Kordofan and Abyei.

Mr. Ban don’t be fooled by Arabs, okay?
- 12 April 2012 11:02, by Michael Miyom Minyiel
  
  Panthou my homeland no regrete whatever
12 April 2012 10:33, by philipdit wol

Thanks Philip Aguer an action speak louder than words please, keep that spirit we have been waiting long for demarcation of boarders since long time ago.
12 April 2012 10:34, by Corrector

for the love of god don’t pull out, in fact, bring your children, wives, parents and friends. The SAF is eager to meet all of you. Ignore the international community for once. This is your destiny.
12 April 2012 10:36, by Corrector

For the love of god don’t pull out of helgig. In fact, bring your children and wives and parents and friends. The SAF is eagerly waiting. This is your destiny.
- 13 April 2012 06:32, by zulu
  
  Corrector,
  According to SMC which is controlled by the NCP, Messyria chiefs who want to volunteer to recapture Panthou, the SPLA used strange guns this time. Better not try. We have not mounted our Gunships and air to surface and surface to air including air to air missiles on our MI Helicopters. Do not aggravate the quiet Tiger and an angry lion.
12 April 2012 10:52, by Michael Miyom Minyiel

Where were UN and AU when people of this place Panthou (heglig) were forced out of their land in 1970s when oil discovered? Let UN and that toothless AU shut up.Genocide was committed in Darfur and no organization intervened.
- 12 April 2012 11:15, by Michael Miyom Minyiel
  
  Bombing us on daily basis is not a solution and no solution will be reached in this atmosphere unless the forces of evil cease the air attacks in the civilians quarters.I hate AU of that Arab minded mr.Ping!
12 April 2012 11:11, by Deng

I think UN and AU should place more emphases on Darfur, South kordufan and blue Nile refugees. or even better Syria and North korea issues. Leave Sudan issues to be settle by rightfulness and power. I am so confident to what Kiir use to say long time ago that ONLY God nows our destiny with the North should they invade us which they did by both ground and air raids.
12 April 2012 11:17, by Northern Sudanese

The UN and AU didn’t tell SAF to immediately withdraw from Abyei because they know Abyei is Northern land but they did tell SPLA to withdraw because Heglig is also northern land......but please tell SPLA not to withdraw......the party just started :D
12 April 2012 11:50, by Luke

Shame to the AU and UN to tell SPLA to evacuate from their home land Heglig. the Government of the Republic of South Sudan was cxalling for UN/AU to impose no fly zone in the territory of South Sudan, what have they done. if you failed to demarcate the border, let SPLA move to 1956 by all means. shame on you and S.Sudan leaders will not listen to you for second time when SPLA withdrawn from Abyei
12 April 2012 12:07, by Martin Kat

Byei has been occupying by Sudanese army for almost two years, while the UN and AU are keepiig guiet they did nothing. UA and Un will be accountable for innocent S Sudanese people who have been killing by Sudan govt in all this time. First of all Un and AU suppose to talk about withdrawal of the Sudan army from Abyei and then they come to talk about Heglig.
12 April 2012 12:37, by Bentiu CAPTAIN

Now i come to understand why ISREAL does listen to UN , UN is all "NO LOGIC SHIT".

WAS THE PRESENT SOUTH-NORTH BORDER DEMARCATED BY UN? It was demarcated by ARAB of Khartoum in absence of South Sudanese. Now it has to be redemarcated by the SPLA based on 1956 south-north border DEMARCATED BY THE BRITISH after the indefendent of SUDAN.
SPLA OYEE!!!
God bless South SUDAN.
12 April 2012 12:41, by MKee

UN and AU must first let arab withdraw from Abyei and other areas that they are controlling illegally b4 they can tell ss to withdraw from its own town. do the right and don’t take side. Northerners and southerners alike bleed! it is un and au weakness that prompted ss to act. AU and UN turn blind eye when southerners are bombarded every day! shame on ki-moon and thugs
12 April 2012 14:42, by Akolde Nhiak Jinub

Why are AU, UN n these other states condemning South Sudan for retaking of their own land (Panthou - renamed Heglig) which has had been occupied by foreigners under one Sudan? Where were AU, UN n these other states when SAF invaded Abyei May 21st 2011 till today?
Where were AU, UN n these other states when Khartoum has been bombing all South’s territories, Malakal’s three incidents?
13 April 2012 00:08, by panom lualbil

RICK MACHAR, shouldnt have given MR OMAR BASHIR ’HEGLIG’ during his rebel against GARANG. And now as a result, it’s causing tragic live lose, when spla has already won referendum through its struggling with help from Lord.
- 13 April 2012 20:56, by Ruach
  
  Panom Lualbil,Heglig formerly called Wech Liech and inhabited by Lou-Nuer 100s years ago was given to Arabs by your Dinka by saying Wech-Liej is not part of Upper Nile rather it was a part Abyei and South Kordufan.Stop posting nonsenses here.Lou-Nuer moved to the Eastern Bank of the Nile.If anything happens,my usually say it not ever happen w/n Naath were in Koat Liej(Koat-Liey).

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