Sudanese president pledges to resolve Southern militia issue

Nov 19, 2006 (JUBA) — Sudanese president yesterday pledged, during his speech before the Southern Sudan legislative chamber, to resolve the issue of militias in the south or in Khartoum. He further urged to preserve the Sudan peace deal describing as the greatest achievement.

The President Omar al-Bashir, has affirmed that issues concerning the militia, be it in the south or in Khartoum, will be dealt with. During his address to the Southern Sudan legislative assembly at its headquarters in Juba yesterday 18 November, he urged MPs and the southern government to safeguard the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) considering it the greatest achievements witnessed in the country after independence.

“It has been 50 years of independence since we brought the peace agreement. This progeny came after a delay of 50 years. So this new-born is dear to us. So what is needed from us is great care. There are many people who do not what this new-born to survive. Which should also take those who do not want peace into consideration. There are people who could actually be ignorant. They do not appreciate the value of peace that has been achieved. They do not appreciate the progress that has been made. We say this is most important achievement after Sudan’s independence is the CPA”; al-Bashir said.

On the issue of militia, al-Bshir said “any talk about security, be it in Khartoum, Juba, the joint forces or the militia, are issues we have discussed, and God willing, all of them will receive the necessary solution. For this reasons I talked to you about security because it is the most important factor. The most important factor is security. he repeated.

Meanwhile, the First Vice-President and President of Southern Sudan government, Salva Kiir Mayardit, warned against giving opportunities on what he described as enemies of Sudan, who did not want peace and stability for Sudan, he said.

Salva Kiir considered accepting the choice of peace as a brave step which history will talk about.

“The history of mankind has always taught us that it takes the commitment and determination of only one person to change the lives of the rest of the people at a specific time and place. FM Omar al-Bashir is one of these people. We laud this courageous step [that he took] with his colleagues in the National Congress and which led to achieving peace with the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement. The agreement is one between two brave sides. Implementing this agreement requires more courageous steps so that we can hinder the enemies of peace within and outside [the country] who think that the Sudanese people cannot not achieve peace and stability in their country by themselves.”

(ST)