SAF send further troops in Abyei – Sudan First Vice-President
June 3, 2008 (JUBA) — JUBA, Sudan: The leader of Sudan’s troubled South called Tuesday on President Omar al-Bashir to pull back government troops in a contested oil-rich area on the boundary between north and south Sudan and said more northern troops were heading there.
Salva Kiir, who also serves as Sudan’s Vice President, said the southerners were not looking for a new war. But his comments were the first confirmation that Khartoum has sent in reinforcements to Abyei, where the two sides clashed last month.
Kiir was asked about reports of new government troops heading south after a meeting with a visiting U.N. Security Council team. “The troops are coming down from Khartoum to Abyei,” he said, but dismissed the notion of fighting them, saying the south wants talks.
“The troops that are coming to Abyei are known by the president of the Republic and I have already called upon him to intervene, to order his military commanders to pull out their forces from Abyei area,” Kiir said. “We are not going to fight them.”
Sudan’s U.N. Ambassador Abdalmahmood Abdalhaleem Mohamed said, however, there were “no troops” moving south.
Abyei lies just north of the disputed boundary line with southern Sudan in a volatile region that remains contested despite a 2005 peace agreement that ended more than two decades of civil war which left an estimated 2 million people dead.
It is coveted by both north and south because of its oil resources and green fields used for grazing cattle.
The week of clashes in the area in May between northern government soldiers of Sudan’s Arab-dominated army and former southern rebels of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army, an ethnic African militia, resulted in almost 90,000 people fleeing their homes, and at least 22 dead soldiers.
Ambassadors from the 15 Security Council nations flew to southern Sudan after spending two days in Djibouti encouraging the government and opposition in Somalia to hold direct peace talks. After a stop in the southern Sudanese capital of Juba for talks with Kiir and others, the delegation flew to Khartoum.
The U.N. visit comes as the Security Council is increasingly concerned the Abyei fighting could threaten the peace deal.
Britain’s U.N. ambassador John Sawers, co-leader of the 15-member delegation, said the Security Council visit — the first ever to Juba — was a “symbol” of the U.N.’s support for the peace deal and reiterated the U.N.’s commitment to fully implementing the Comprehensive Peace Agreement.
He said the Council will deliver the same message to leaders of al-Bashir’s National Congress Party in Khartoum and also raise “the forced displacement of tens of thousands of people from Abyei.”
The southerners are “not looking for war, we are looking for peace, implementation of the peace agreement,” Kiir said. “There is no danger as long as there is will for peace,” he responded when asked about the possibility of a new civil war.
But when asked whether the government have the will for peace, Kiir said: “Ask the members of the (ruling) National Congress Party whether they have the will to implement the CPA or the Abyie agreement or not.” He used the initials of the peace deal.
Journalists who visited Abyei with the U.N. under heavy security saw a ghost town where devastation was almost total.
The fighting in Abyei flared at the same time the U.N. was warning of a dangerous escalation of violence on another Sudanese front — the Darfur conflict. Earlier in May, a Darfur rebel group staged an attack just outside the capital Khartoum for the first time since that conflict in western Sudan began in 2003.
Sudan’s 2005 north-south peace agreement created a unity government led by al-Bashir and his one-time military rival, Kiir. It also set up a semiautonomous southern government led by Kiir, and called for national elections in 2009 and a referendum on independence for South Sudan in 2011.
The Sudanese People’s Liberation Movement, which Kiir also heads, has accused al-Bashir of breaching the 2005 accord by refusing to share oil wealth, failing to pull government troops out of South Sudan, and remilitarizing contested zones such as Abyei.
Any serious resumption of hostilities between north and south would also exacerbate the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Darfur, where government efforts to put down a 2003 rebellion have claimed 200,000 lives and displaced at least 2.5 million people.
The council is scheduled to hold talks with Sudan’s foreign minister and other officials on Wednesday. On Thursday, the council will visit Darfur and hold talks with al-Bashir in Khartoum.
The Security Council arrived in Khartoum as the U.S. envoy to Sudan, Richard Williamson, headed back to Washington after nearly a week of meetings with Sudanese officials including the president, al-Bashir.
Nafie Ali Nafie, the president’s assistant, was quoted by the official Sudan media center as saying: “In my view, we have reached reasonable consent on many of the issues we have discussed and that two sides are satisfied.” But Williamson was reported to be unhappy with the outcome of the talks.
(AP)
Mr Famous Big_Logic_Boy
SAF send further troops in Abyei – Sudan First Vice-President
I encourage Kiir to put more effort on the issue of Abeyi,rather than leaving it to chameleone Riek who will change himself at anytime.Therefore someone call Abdalhaleem Mohamed seem to be a blind gang,who doesnot understand what is going on the ground of Abeyi,why should you insist those terrorist group send by beshir to bomb Abeyi and why do you intend to bullshit that Abeyi belongs to north,can you go to Abeyi and see with your own eyes.Abeyi is Southern part i strongly agree and i recommand that hopefully we must have it back.If Abeyi is to be considered as Northern part it is better to violate the CPA,which mean we have to add more fuel and have it back.No Abeyi No CPA.
Henry Makuei
SAF send further troops in Abyei – Sudan First Vice-President
This is terrible for Bashir supporting the war. President Kiir is the real citizen of Sudan because he don’t want his country to go to disaster again unlike Bashir and his government who defend themselve by weapons than wards.
James James
SAF send further troops in Abyei – Sudan First Vice-President
Mr. Logic:
Please try to develop some kind of respect to our leaders especially to Dr Riek Machar. Dr. Riek didn’t do anything wrong to you except the position of vice presidency that your uncle, General Wani Agga who belong to your tribe of Bari is deadly yarning for, yet that is not your position, try to work for your own tomorrow “nyarkuk”(kid in Turkana).
For others, the issue of Abyei and the structure of the government of Sudan entirely,as well as her functional mechanism is completely astounding a lot of people. President Salva Kiir is the second person to the topest job in the country as CPA stipulated both in civil and in military wing. Surounding all these circumstances,People like me and many others across the world are taken by great anxiety to know the way Sudan government characterized its military functional strategies. In any government across the globe, normally vice president is the right fellow who should have strong link with defend secretary,they have to share meetings and issue decisions togather regarding any military exercise in the nation. But in Khartoum regime, some of us are very bewildered by the way President Bashier tend to send army without the knowledge of his vice President(Kiir) this is very unusual situation in our modern governmental history.
Kiir need to consult Omar Bashier over this issue, Bashier need to redifined the duties of Kiir as his vice president. We don’t want our leaders to serve there as mere stoogies. How can Omar sent troops from time to time without Kiir consent. I am not happy with the way arab are trying to manipulate the government.
Please Kiir better be full duty vice president or quit that position till all your respect and respect of the people of southern Sudan whom you are representing is restored.
I hope that goes with you.
God bless.
Wene_mangeth
SAF send further troops in Abyei – Sudan First Vice-President
I am appealing to Mr.President of the South that discussing the Abyiei oil rich area clashes between the SAF and SPLA will be a solution otherwise the declaration of the war will prevail .
You are able mr. presidence Kiir to excercise your roles this time because you are known to your expectation by the world .
helping the people of abyiei is our presitge to we the Southerners.
Thanks
Mabior Aguek Atem
Gai Chol Paul
SAF send further troops in Abyei – Sudan First Vice-President
It is sound meaningless to cry about SAF sending their troop to Abyei,why not SPLA sending their troop also .There will be no day International community praises our cowadice way of confronting our long history enemies.you have seen what UNIMIS did when they blame SPLA in Abyei problem.pliz let’s fight our enemies without excuses that should makes our enemy defeat us.This time is time for talk,it is time for action.pliz H.E President Kiir advice your Commanders who like to stay in Juba without concern with problem
James James
SAF send further troops in Abyei – Sudan First Vice-President
Mr. Logic:
Exchanging conversation with you is total misery just as a wizard tries to exchange magical words with unexisting ghost in the middle of the night. I think it is worthy for you to be left alone to continue heading to the lose world.
I try to address you decently & politely, you turn your behind to me without feeling fever of shame. Anyway, I was trying to help you to stop being negative towards any senior official include Riek for your own future’s reputation. well, I have given you very green light to proceed.
Regarding your identity, we have found you through difference sources, don’t panic beacuse you have been so rifty in this web inside dark glass, I am sure today onward, it will be up to you to insult Murle again or leave them alone. Otherwise it is better to come and criticize them (Murle)in person, we love to see somebody changinging us upfront about any crimes committed by Murle community as others do.
Yes, You have been talking ill about Murle, Dinka Bor and Nuer under heavy curtain, now I am glad to have you as a friend with clear identity like everybody else in this web, first of all we don’t need sneaky intruders in our politics. As from now, please try to find somewhere else where you will rest your nose or be here as our Bari contributor. Your hiding haven is gone.
Have nice day my in-law, because some Murle marriage to Bari girls whom some of them might be your nieces.
I hope you are happy for us to know your full status negro.
God bless
Yaak Barach
SAF send further troops in Abyei – Sudan First Vice-President
I agree with Gai in the sense that the SPLM leaders should stop complaining about the SAF reinforcing its forces in Abyei. Why cann’t we also build up our forces in Abyei, and watch what SAF will do in case the SPLA doesn’t want to start the confrontation? SPLA forces have never been cowards during those terrible years of the struggle; they use to go without food for days, no medicines, no millitary trucks and many other basic needs. Sure nobody want another war, but the SPLA commanders shouldn’t let the enemy massacre our civilians in their watch as it happened recently in Abyei. Let’s get back our original form of being fiercest fighters and stop this non-sense of being passive obeyers of the CPA. H.E Salva Kiir need to be tough in dealing with the enemy otherwise CPA is nothing to the Arabs or else we shouldn’t be talking about Abyei in 2008.
LONG LIVE SPLA!!!
Makwei Achol Thiong
SAF send further troops in Abyei – Sudan First Vice-President
Kiir, do not over enjoy too much holidays when you can see that Basir is seriously preparing to engulf our South Sudan as he is intensively importing troops well armed particularly to Abyei oil rich area than commodities which could benefit both the South and the North Sudan.Entertain him (Bashir) by promising talks while designing the best solution to this problem in Abyei.
Majoor Atem Deng
SAF send further troops in Abyei – Sudan First Vice-President
President Kiir was asked after a meeting with a visiting U.N Security Council Team. He said.” SAF troops are coming down from Khartoum to Abyei, they are known by the president of the Republic,I asked him to intervene to order his commanders to pul out from Abyei.We are not going to fight them.”
Well, President Kiir must stop making statements about CPA and ongoing crisis in Abyei area or he really destroying the confidence of the people in him and his ablity to lead us.
If we can not protect ourselves and what we have got through fighting from the enemy who wants war not peace, deliberately dishonors agreements.
Than Mr. President don’t rub salt in a wounds of awounded people. let the politics and tactics be done by other government’s officials, your remarks are unfortunate.
aguer alaak
SAF send further troops in Abyei – Sudan First Vice-President
I wander if this is what we are left with…complaints. Are we tired and trying to sitback and talk when the enemy is seizing and brandishing weapons. Looted items from southerners being auctioned at Muglad,Abyei occupied by SAF,Abyei citizens displaced,Military helicopters park in Muglad and SAF soldiers moving into Abyei as reinforcement and what next do you in the south want to solve, what do the north want to know about implementing or not implementing the comprehensive peace agreement. And why have you guys ignore Garang statement which he said at the signing ceremony at Nyayo stadium that, when two bulls are fighting,they pull apart to gain momentum . This mean there is war only that it is not known where,who and when will it start….Darfur has been and still complaining for nearly five years from now,nothing change,SPLM is now joining the race of complaining which they aready know cann,t work…Can international community help push back the invading SAF out of Abyei..A big noooo..So where are we heading to .
Hillary B.M.L,M
SAF send further troops in Abyei – Sudan First Vice-President
Mr. James James and Mr.Famous Bib Logic-Boy.Why are you killing yourself with nonsenses. Please i advise you not to use this Website for your own nonsenses conversation which create HATREDS between tribes in south Sudan.Talk Politics according to the article instead of implanting bad spirit.
Kuonkech
SAF send further troops in Abyei – Sudan First Vice-President
It is not a matter of accasing each other,somethings shuold be done to avoid problems from escalating.
Intwernational commitee will never do any thing if our goverment is not active. this so-call international commitee are triying to
fuel up the conflicts such that more funds are brought in. But not a matter of stopping the conflict
bt Madit wuor
James James
SAF send further troops in Abyei – Sudan First Vice-President
Ms.Hillary B.M.L.M
Please, I usually feel happy to see young women from Southern Sudan giving hands in our politics. Good girl, before you attack me, please go a head and read my first comment if it has any offensive phrase.
I think the best thing to do is to talk to Mr. Logic who dearly love to brush his funny teeth with abusive words against other people istead of our regular toothpast and toothbrush. Please advice him to brush his teeth like everybody else with WHO’s aprove chemicals.
Thank you for your advise though and say hi to your prity husband.
I hope you talk to Logic.
God bless.
Grader
SAF send further troops in Abyei – Sudan First Vice-President
And what is SPLA doing? Sit with hand folded in Juba! Today is for Abyei & Tomorrow will be displacement in Juba.
ojok s. ojok
SAF send further troops in Abyei – Sudan First Vice-President
why is the UN so silent when the Khartoum governmen sent its troops to Abyei? this is something the SPLA need to know what is going on; Mr Kiir must not back the SPLA from the region since Abyei is in the south.