Sudan’s SPLA denies relations with Israel
Oct 18, 2006 (JUBA) — A senior official in the former rebel Sudan People’s Liberation Army which signed a peace agreement with the Sudanese government in January 2005 has denied that it had built secret ties with Israel.
The spokesperson of the SPLA, Byour Ajanig, on Wednesday refuted in a press statement to London based Asharq Al-Awsat the existence of any kind of ties between the SPLM and the State of Israel.
The rumors saying that the SPLM established secret ties with Israel in a bid to separate the region from the biggest African country have mounted up since the movement signed a peace deal with the government.
According to the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, southern Sudanese will be consulted by referendum in 2011 whether they want to stay in a united Sudan or to establish their proper state.
“The SPLM had never any relation with Israel since its establishment” he said, adding “such accusations are speculated before the signing of the peace deal with Khartoum.”
“The purpose of these accusations was to prevent the SPLM from establishing relations with the Arabic countries” he explained.
Ajanig expressed his astonishment that such accusations are still launched saying “if they are speaking about the unity of Sudan what is the reason that makes some people speaking about Israeli presence in southern Sudan.”
The spokesperson said the movement had set up good relations with many Arab states like Libya, the former Southern Yemen, and Egypt. He further said “a state like Egypt has a strong intelligence service and it will know if we have relations with Israel”
(ST)