South Sudan concerned over growing tension in Sudan: minister
April 13, 2023 (JUBA) – South Sudan on Thursday expressed concerns over the evolving political and military situation in neighboring Sudan, saying “wisdom, knowledge and experience” is needed to handle the potentially volatile situation.
On Wednesday, hundreds of Rapid Support Force (RSF) troops arrived in Merowe without coordination with country’s military leadership, prompting the Sudanese army to surround the militiamen and request for their immediate departure.
Sudan’s military warned Thursday of a potential confrontation with its paramilitary force, which it said deployed forces in the capital, Khartoum and other areas.
Speaking to Sudan Tribune on Thursday, South Sudan Presidential Affairs minister Barnaba Marial Benjamin disclosed that President Salva Kiir was concerned about developing political and military situation in Sudan and called for calm, wisdom, and knowledge to address the issues of concern between the parties involved.
“His Excellency the President of the Republic of South Sudan, Gen Salva Kiir Mayardit and the entire government is concerned about the developing situation in Sudan and has joined other leaders to calm down the situation,” he explained.
South Sudan, Marial said, has a moral obligation to ensure peace prevails in Sudan.
“You know that Sudan is one of the guarantors of the 2018 revitalized peace agreement. It is also the chair of the intergovernmental authority on Development (IGAD). So, Sudan is an important member of the regional organizations, the IGAD, the Africa Union, and indeed on the global stage. Sudan has a role to play in maintaining peace and security”, stressed the minister.
He added, “We appeal to Sudanese leaders in their political formations and organization to sit down together as brothers and sisters and use dialogue. We are also appealing for calm and asking other players to not fan tension with inflammatory statements. It does no good to point a finger at anyone when there is an opportunity for dialogue”.
Tensions between the army and the SRF led by Gen. Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo have escalated in recent months, forcing a delay in the signing of a peace agreement with political parties to revive Sudan’s democratic transition.
This standoff led to a temporary halt of the talks in Khartoum between the two military sides over the integration of the militia into the regular army. The discussions are part of an internationally supported process aimed at restoring a civilian transitional government overthrown by the military in October 2021.
(ST)