South Sudan envoy to Egypt says I’m not here to weaken the embassy
By Roba Gibia
June 26, 2007 (CAIRO) — The newly appointed head of the Government of Southern Sudan (GoSS) Liaison Office in Cairo has said that his role in Egypt comes to complement and not to challenge the Sudanese embassy. He further affirmed that attracting investors and the follow-up of GoSS accords constitute the core of his mission.
The Head of GoSS Liaison Office to the Arab Republic of Egypt, Middle East, Gulf States and League of Arab Nations,. Parmena Makuet Mangar, told the Sudan Tribune “I am here to support the Sudanese Embassy and not to weaken the Embassy. I am not consulate but Liaison Office for regional cooperation, investment, development and to strengthen bilateral relationship with Egypt and Arab states”.
Since his arrival to Cairo on May 19, Parmena conducted various meetings with the Egyptian authorities, security organs, Sudanese Ambassador, NCP and SPLM office in Cairo to explain the purpose of his mission.
He reiterated that, there is no contradiction between his office and the Sudan embassy. My role is to sequel the reconstruction agreements which do not fall under the Sudanese embassy in Cairo. For instance, when the Egyptian Minister of Electricity visited Juba, Rumbek and Wau, was invited by Dr. Riek Machar, Vice President of GoSS and Minister of Housing, Land and Public Utilities and the agreement was signed in Juba, not Khartoum and this can not be followed by the embassy but via my office.
“We have agreements with the Egyptian government to train south Sudanese cadres in various fields such as irrigation, banking and police which Sudanese embassy doesn’t posses its dossiers. Thus, there is no antagonism between GoSS Liaison Office and the Sudan embassy in Egypt.”
Parmena described his meetings with the Sudanese Ambassador Abdelmonem Maburuk and Consul Emad as the meeting between brothers, and said that according to Sudanese tradition the meeting was conducted under the prevalence of affection and admiration. He further said that he told Ambassador that your elder son is doing a superb job and has got a home, but his bond with the big home will always remain forever.
The Head of GoSS Liaison Office praised the role of Egypt and considered it as the leader of the Arab world, and a really sister country but warned that he is not undermining the role of the other Arab states, pointing that the entire Arab nations are indivisible and have got common relations, love, respect and all the wonderful meaning of the words and collectiveness which binds all the peoples and religions whether being Islam or Christianity.
Parmena Makuet praised the ongoing efforts of Egyptian government in the south Sudan reconstruction process, and said that Sudanese are not denying others kindness to them.
SUDANESE COMMUNITY
The Head of GoSS Liaison Office met with the Sudanese community in Cairo, and briefed them about the situation in south, Nuba mountains and Blue Nile and encouraged people to go back home to contribute in the construction process.
He said that his mission is to encourage Arab businessmen to invest in south and the war torn areas in Sudan.
As regards voluntary repatriation, Parmena Makuet told the Sudanese community that the Sudan embassy has already initiated the voluntary repatriation process, but it is being hampered by the lack of fund. But beside that he praised the efforts of Alfadel, Consul General in finding means to repatriate those who are willing to go back home.
As GoSS Liaison Office, he will inform the Relief and Rehabilitation Commission in Juba to assist the Sudanese Embassy in Cairo in this context. He called on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the government of national unity to extend assistance and support to the Sudan embassy, in accomplishing its voluntary repatriation program, particularly after visiting some southern Sudanese families who are desperate and living in slums at the outskirts of Cairo in very poor conditions.
He said “actually, I felt disgraced and melancholy when I saw the situation of those families”. He went on saying that “I will cooperate with the Egyptian and Sudanese embassy authorities in Cairo whether being on security or administrative wise to resolve the predicament of Sudanese who are being smuggled into Israel, and to improve the situation of those living in poor conditions at the outskirts of Cairo.”
LOST BOYS
In an answer to question of “lost boys” and “outlaws” who are posing insecurity among the Sudanese community and their families in particular, Parmena said “the prevailing insecurity caused by these boys among the Sudanese community in Egypt is one of the chilling issues which we are trying to resolve promptly. And said in reality, those two groups are not wicked boys or girls, but they are the victims of the situation and the adversity of the life they are leading with their parents, made the parents incapable to control their sons and daughters”.
Makuet was shocked last week, when one of the outlaws was murdered at the American University in Cairo. The situation became tense, as there was desire for reprisal from the side of the diseased group and tribe. But the situation was quickly overcome with the aid of Egyptian security, and the body of the diseased was transported to Sudan by GoSS Liaison Office.
Now there are good numbers of lost boys and outlaws in Egyptian custody and some went into hiding. That credit goes to Mr. Makuet who took the issue of these boys serious, through his meetings with the Church leaders, south Sudanese community leaders and chiefs and above all with the Egyptian security. As according to him, these boys are trying to tarnish the image of South Sudanese people in Egypt, and it is projecting Southerners as people without ethics, culture and directives.
ADVERTISING PEACE AGREEMENT
The issues confronting or at the top of GoSS Liaison Office agenda in Egypt is not only the problem of lost boys and outlaws and voluntary repatriation, but there are variety of matters which needed to be addressed and make it clear to the public digest.
The majority of Egyptian streets do not have absolute knowledge about the peace details in Sudan, and they are wondering as whether south Sudan has already been alienated, and there are lots of questions which require an answer.
“I believe the GoSS Liaison Office has got a great role to play in this respect. There is no doubt that GoSS Liaison Office in Egypt is one of the largest GoSS Liaison Offices in the world, and in a region with variety of controversial issues and lack of knowledge about the peace agreement between Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) and National Congress Party (NCP) or south-north. And despite clarity of the Naivasha peace agreement and its implementation modalities to the two signatory parties, yet the issue of opening Liaison Offices for GoSS around the globe remains disturbing issue to the hardliners within the National Congress Party (NCP).”
The opening of the GoSS Liaison Office in Cairo has been confronted with various problems, particularly flying of the New Sudan or SPLM flag on the top of the GoSS Liaison Office in El Maadi, trembled and scared many enemies of the peace. But thanks to the efforts and diplomatic skill of Parmena Makuet, in handling the issue diplomatically the New Sudan or SPLM flag has gained its position and legitimacy among the many flags in Egypt.
(ST)