Sudan’s SPLM denounces expulsion of Canadian diplomat

September 3, 2007 (KHARTOUM) — Sudan’s junior coalition government partner denounced as “unacceptable” Sudan’s recent expulsion of diplomats and a humanitarian official on Monday, saying it had not been consulted.

“What happened is unacceptable to us. We should be consulted and our views taken into consideration,” said Yassir Arman, deputy secretary general of the former southern rebel group, the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM).

On August 23, Sudan’s foreign ministry expelled European Union Commission Ambassador Kent Degerfelt and acting Canadian charge d’affaires Nuala Lawlor, saying they had meddled in the country’s internal affairs.

Three days later, Sudan ordered Paul Barker, director of U.S.-based aid agency CARE, to leave the country, citing similar reasons.

The SPLM signed a peace deal with the dominant northern National Congress Party (NCP) in 2005, ending decades of north-south conflict that killed an estimated 2 million people and displaced some 4 million from their homes.

But their relations have been frosty, with SPLM officials accusing the NCP of stalling implementation of the peace deal and not consulting on key foreign policy decisions.

“It is regrettable that the National Congress is working alone and this will jeopardise the working relationship between the SPLM and the National Congress,” said Arman.

The NCP was not immediately available for comment.

Khartoum revoked Degerfelt’s expulsion following an apology from the European Union, allowing him to stay indefinitely. On Sunday, officials said discussions were ongoing for the possible return of Barker.

But the damage had been done, the SPLM said.

“This is going to raise questions about the meaning of the national unity government,” said Arman, adding the SPLM learned about the expulsions like anybody else “as if we are outsiders”.

The SPLM and NCP have clashed before over Sudan’s rejection of U.N. Security Council resolutions on Darfur and relations with the international community.

U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon arrives in Sudan on Monday for talks with the country’s leaders that are expected to focus on Darfur and implementation of the north-south peace deal or the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA).

Arman said the SPLM would discuss both issues with Ban when he visits Juba, the capital of south Sudan, on Tuesday.

He said the SPLM hoped a “speedy implementation” of the peace deal, especially implementation of a security protocol, “would constitute a major concern to him (Ban)”.

Ban has expressed concern about the northern army missing a July 9 deadline to move troops out of vital southern oil areas.

The SPLM said a resolution of the Darfur conflict was in its interest, as donors have withheld funds pledged for the development needs in the south, pending a settlement in Darfur.

“We believe that Darfur and the CPA are interrelated and interconnected and they impact on each other,” said Arman.

(Reuters)