Sudan says Cyprus ship contains mining explosives not arms
June 23, 2010 (KHARTOUM) — The Sudanese government today acknowledged for the first time that the shipment on board a cargo vessel held in Cyprus belonged to it but denied reports that it contained arms or military equipments.
On Tuesday Cypriot officials said that it is investigating a Barbuda flagged ship that stopped for refueling on June 11 at its port of Limassol on suspicion that it is carrying weapons heading to Sudan which could potentially be a violation to UN Security Council (UNSC) resolutions.
A local newspaper in Nicosia had said that the vessel was transporting tanks and large quantities of explosives, and was blocked after a tip-off from the United States. The latter denied any involvement in providing the intel.
The ship’s captain however provided documents showing that the tanks were destined for Singapore while the explosives were headed to Algeria.
“The boat contains explosives destined for Port Sudan, for mining firm Ariab which needs them to work a gold mine,” Abdel-Baqi Al Gailani, Sudan’s minister responsible for mining, told Agence France Presse (AFP).
“It has nothing to do with the military” he told Reuters in a separate interview.
“Sudan has been importing explosives since the early 1990s to work this gold mine, and has never had any problems in the past. It’s the first time this has happened. It’s absurd,” he said.
The mine at Hassay, 450 kilometers northeast of the capital Khartoum, is Sudan’s first – and only – gold mine.
The Ariab group working the mine is 51 per cent Sudanese government owned, while 40 per cent of the shares are held by holding group Cominor, created by Canada’s La Mancha and France’s Areva.
An Ariab official, speaking to AFP on condition of anonymity, confirmed that there were explosives on board the Santiago.
“There are 251 tonnes of explosives which are for us. I hope they get here quickly, as we need them to be able to continue operation,” the official said.
“I don’t know if there is anything else on board the boat, but these explosives are definitely for us.”
Gailani said Sudan was now considering taking legal action to free the cargo and win compensation for the delay.
“The explosives were supposed to be here … Some work has had to be stopped … Sudan always comes under suspicion. This is something we always have to deal with,” he said.
The Cypriot Commerce Minister Antonis Paschalides told state radio that the ” ship is under guard and there are materials that are considered banned, this means either military material or explosives”.
“There is definitely military equipment which comes under a ban,” he added without elaborating.
The port police and customs officers searched the ship and confirmed the presence of weapons on board.
A security source said authorities were investigating whether the cargo contravened a U.N. arms embargo on all armed groups operating in Sudan’s Darfur region, the site of a seven-year conflict pitting government troops and allied militias against rebel fighters.
The U.S. envoy to the United Nations, Susan Rice, in March accused Sudan of cavalier violations of the U.N.’s Darfur embargo.
Analysts last year also said Sudan’s northern and southern armies were building up arms as tensions mounted over a faltering 2005 north-south peace deal. Northern and southern authorities denied the reports.
In September 2008, Somali pirates captured a Ukrainian ship loaded with a cargo of Soviet-era T-72 tanks plus other weapons. The pirates and foreign diplomats said there was evidence the arms were bound for south Sudan. South Sudan’s government dismissed the report.
The European Union, of which Cyprus is a member, also has a blanket ban on arms shipments to Sudan.
(ST)
Deng Thiak Adut
Sudan says Cyprus ship contains mining explosives not arms
This is clearly an act of war and if anyone has a nerve to suggest that the war is over, then you should think again. Bashire made his position cleared in the past that he will defeat those who advocate separation and this is clearly what is happening. The clock is ticking toward referendum and voicing the facts that “borders” issues could be explosive its dearly sounding very true and South should not think about reaching referendum rather securitisation of borders.
I would like to thanks Cypriot government for detention of these weapon and explosive. Legal action will do Sudan no good as long there is clear evidence of weapons and explosive heading to Sudan. Whether a mining company owned the explosives or weapons is irrelevant as long the weapons and explosives were bound to the Sudan. There is clear admission that Sudan has been importing explosive since 1990s. There is good reason to check the contents carefully now and that these new evidences could prove that more explosives were imported by Sudan. Secondly if Sudan does have weapon making capabilities than those explosive can be turned into bombs making devices that can be used either in South or in Darfur.
Kiir and Riak, wake up! Support the SPLA soldiers and their families and make available funds for their families in case they died in the upcoming war!! Promise them that they are not dying for nothing otherwise you will fight this war with your families and extend families who are currently benefiting under your government. My advice: You must quiet Athor in Jonglei otherwise you will have to fight in two frontline, which is bad military strategy.