South Sudan say US policy affects war stricken regions?
By Ngor Arol Garang
October 24, 2009 (KHARTOUM) – The Spokesperson of Government of Southern Sudan (GoSS), Paul Mayom Akech, Minister of information and broadcasting service today said that the recent released US policy on Sudan greatly affects war ravaged regions across the country.
The GoSS has welcomed the new US Policy saying it provides a unique yet complex opportunity for the central government to learn and adjust areas of international concern but that the policy affects the poor majority particularly in the marginalized areas of Sudan, Akech said.
The official said that Southern Sudan is still part of united Sudan under the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), needing developmental machineries, which according to him said, can not get into the region since routes of entry is part of North Sudan.
“We cannot have heavy machineries coming into the region when there are sanctions that ban imports heavy machines to the country,” he said adding that this policy requires “an honest review” from Sudanese people and governments.
“This is not because we support lifting of imposed sanctions on Khartoum by the US administration and other government but we need a policy that explores ways and how to exclude war stricken regions to progress,” he said.
In 2006 the US administration exempted Southern Sudan, Southern Kordofan/Nuba Mountains State, Blue Nile State, Abyei, Darfur, and marginalized areas in and around Khartoum from sanctions.
The minister who has been hesitant to comment on US policy review on Sudan reiterated that these sanctions do not in any way affect leadership of the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) government or central administration of Sudan but poor people of the Sudan particularly in the South and the marginalized areas of the country such Southern Blue Nile, Nuba Mountains, Abyei among others.
This comes following US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton’s revelation of the Strategy of President Barack Obama’s administration towards Sudan on Monday October 19.
The strategy offers incentives if Khartoum works toward peace, but Sudan faces tougher steps if it fails to act.
(ST)
Gatwech
South Sudan say US policy affects war stricken regions?
Dear readers,
Paul Mayom Akech simply did not understand what the new US policy is all about. It gives chance to Khartoum to positively change and then lift the sanctions. There is no way the sanctions can be lifted before Khartoum shows cooperation. Khartoum must fully implement the CPA, address the Darfur conflict and distance itself from states that sponsor terrorism, then the incentives will follow. These incentives will include the lifting of the sanctions imposed on the country.
It is very important that the US policy this time has prioritized pushing for the conduct of elections and referendum in time and successfully. This is what the poor region of South Sudan needs most from the US in this 2009. The South would not benefit more even if the sanctions are lifted just one year before referendum. Khartoum would abuse it by buying more deadly weapons from the countries it has been banned to buy from. They can use any route. So the priority areas for South Sudan, Abyei, Nuba Mountains and Southern Blue Nile is not lifting of sanctions but conduct of referendum and popular consultations. This is where the South Sudan government including the minister should focus on. Mr. Mayom, don’t act like a spokesman for Khartoum. How come your leadership from Salva Kiir, Riek Machar and Pagan Amum welcomed the policy and you notoriously decided to go the opposite? Is there discipline?
Time1
South Sudan say US policy affects war stricken regions?
As an SPLM myself, the new US policy is very good and balanced as indicated by the south Sudan vice president.