South Sudan reinforces deployment of troops to secure borders

By James Gatdet Dak

December 23, 2008 (JUBA) – The semi-autonomous Government of Southern Sudan has resolved to close and secure its borders and major supply routes leading to Kenya, Uganda and DR Congo as regional crisis with the Ugandan rebels of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) intensifies.

Ugandan government carried out both air and ground attacks on the rebels’ bases in north-eastern DR Congo since December 14 and still continuing.

In the Council of Ministers meeting on Monday chaired by the Vice President, Dr. Riek Machar Teny, the cabinet listened to the report presented by the Chief Mediator on the status of the Juba peace process in the light of the renewed military action.

Minister of Information and Broadcasting, the official Spokesman of the Government, Gabriel Changson Chang, explained to the press that Dr. Machar, the Chief Mediator, informed the meeting of the rebel leader Joseph Kony’s refusal to sign the final peace agreement, citing ICC arrest warrants as an obstacle.

The Juba peace process which kicked off in July 2006 was successfully negotiated, concluded and initialed by the two parties since March this year, but failed to carry the signature of LRA leader Kony who demanded for deferment of the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) arrest warrants before he could sign the peace deal.

The renewed fighting by regional forces against the LRA has engulfed in the crisis the three countries of Uganda, DR Congo and Southern Sudan.

Chang said the meeting also resolved to temporarily suspend the mediation efforts of the Government of Southern Sudan between the government of Uganda and the LRA until the two parties are ready to return to peace table and sign the peace agreement.

Last week the Chief Mediator urged the LRA rebels to signal their readiness to assemble at Ri-Kwangba area at Southern Sudan/DR Congo border, respect the terms for assembling, sign and start implementing the Final Peace Agreement in order to de-escalate the fighting in the region.

Some of the rebels were reported last week to have already entered Southern Sudan territory in smaller separate groups and accused of committing atrocities by state authorities.

SPLA forces are to be deployed at the three borders and along all major supply routes to and fro Southern Sudan to protect the civil population and keep trade uninterrupted.

Minister Chang, in another news development, said the Council of Ministers also discussed potential issuance of arrest warrant on the President of the Republic, Omer Hassan al-Bashir, and urged the Khartoum-based Government of National Unity to cooperate with the international community on the issue.

(ST)