US sanctions not a priority for Salava Kiir

Editorial, The Khartoum Monitor

Nov 7, 2005 — There have been conflicting reports in the Arabic media that the first vice-president, Salva Kiir Mayardit’s, visit to the USA was to urge the American Administration to lift all sanctions against Sudan.

One wonders whether these issues of sanctions constitute a priority of the government of South Sudan.

This government faces huge challenges of repatriating refugees and internally displaced southern Sudanese, who exist as third class citizens in a capital, which is supposed to be their own; the clearing of land mines; resettlement; the Lord’s Resistance Army menace; opening up of roads and developing infrastructure from zero.

After all, Vice-President Kiir was not party to the circumstances which forced the US Administration to impose sanctions on Sudan.

Although he is part of the government of national unity, it does not logically follow that he must inherit problems created by its present partner. Besides, charity begins at home.

However, press reports from Washington say Kiir was discussing more pertinent issues.

“What we talked about was the situation in Darfur and the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement,” said Kiir.

The same reports say Kiir discussed with US officials the formation of the National Petroleum Council and the Boundary Commission, but that increasing US aid to Sudan was not discussed with US officials. Kiir also said that neither was the issue of lifting US sanctions on Sudan, imposed since 1997, or removing the country from the US “terrorism list” discussed this time.

What Vice-President Kiir said in favour of ordinary Sudanese citizens was that “despite the US position, representatives of northern and southern Sudan will continue to urge Washington to lift sanctions because they are affecting ordinary citizens”.