Sudan closes borders with Libya amid growing diplomatic tensions
June 28, 2010 (KHARTOUM) — The Sudanese interior ministry made an abrupt announcement on Monday that it will shut its borders with Libya as a measure to preserve the lives and property of citizens from both countries.
Ibrahim Mahmood Hamid, the Sudanese Minister of Interior issued decree 203 containing the directive that will effective in the beginning of July.
A statement by the ministry said that the purpose of this decision is to allow for the restructuring and deployment of police units from various divisions including immigration, traffic, customs and border patrols.
Passage on a highway to the boundary “has become subjected to threats and attacks from rebels and outlaws who commit robberies, extortion and imposing unlawful fees and levies,” the statement said.
It is not clear of today’s decision is linked to the growing tension with Libya over refusing to expel the leader of the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) who arrived there last month after Chad barred him from entering the country.
Chad has been a hub for JEM fighters and political officers through which they entered to their bases inside Darfur. However, a recent thaw in relations between Sudan and its Western neighbor created the unexpected situation for JEM.
Earlier this month the Libyan foreign minister Mousa Kousa said that they are allowing Ibrahim to stay for humanitarian reasons. Other Libyan officials have said that they maintain relations with all warring parties in Darfur including the rebels who carried arms against the government since 2003.
Sudan has dispatched several of its officials to Libya and president Omer Hassan Al-Bashir has made several phone calls to his Libyan counterpart in a bid to convince him to eject the JEM chief.
Yesterday, the Sudanese government said that Libya is in the process of expelling Ibrahim. There was no confirmation from Tripoli.
A former Sudanese official familiar with the Libya-Sudan border situation told Sudan Tribune that banditry in that area has been rampant since years back.
“The borders have been largely closed ever since. We partially opened it, even though the Libyans at the time were not very enthusiastic about reopening,” said the official who asked not to be named.
The official suggested that Khartoum is concerned that JEM rebel chief may attempt to cross into Darfur to join his forces through the Libyan borders.
Libya’s border with Sudan passes through the troubled Darfur region, where the United Nations estimates 300,000 people have died in a war that started in 2003 when ethnic rebels revolted against the Arab-dominated government.
An unnamed source at the Libyan foreign ministry told official news agency (JANA) that his country “fully understands” Sudan’s decision which he said was made “for obvious reasons particularly that the Darfur crisis is still raging”.
“Our Sudanese brothers know very well that that Sudan would not be harmed from the Great Jamahiriya because we are brothers and cooperation between us is going well”.
(ST)
Aduol Liet
Sudan closes borders with Libya amid growing diplomatic tensions
Sudan government must know that, threaten neighbor Countries will make it worst and Omar al Bashir will still needed by the ICC Judges. Whatever, Sudan government are trying to fear his people and the neighborhoods that is not the answer for indictment, the answer for indictment is to turn this Omar al Bashir to the ICC Judges that is the only solution if not this North Sudan will be the last worst region than Darfuri regions put in mind. Adolf Hitler was threaten all European Countries at that time but where is Adolf’s government.? Omar al Bashir will funcken hell very soon.
jalabi
Sudan closes borders with Libya amid growing diplomatic tensions
Gaddafi is perfect example for corrupted and crazy leader in Africa, he wasted Libyan money on paying billions of dollars for compensating relatives of the Lockerbie bombing victims when he bombed Pan Am Flight 103 in 1988 in Scotland, Gaddafi has formally accepted responsibility of the terrorist attack that killed all 259 people on board as well as 11 on the ground, Gaddafi agreed to pay billions of dollars to the IRA victims families instead of UK bringing him to justice, who really deserved to be brought to international court? Gaddafi serves all the west agenda with or without knowing this fact but indeed the west will never bring him to justice or support democratic process in Libya but they will keep him in power and get benefit of the billions of dollar compensation that he pays plus oil and destabilize his neighboring countries. Gaddafi was supporting Iran against Irag during the war between Irag & Iran during the 80 of the last century despit he known to be great Arab Union supporter!!! what a nasty crazy leader!!!!
Jalabi (Abo Jalabia)
murlescrewed
Sudan closes borders with Libya amid growing diplomatic tensions
The NCP criminal regime is trying to force JEM leader Khalid Ibrahim to be pushed out of Libya and back to the negotiation table but this is not going to work. The first step out of this standoff is to free all JEM POWs as a gesture of goodwill and then restart serious negotiations.
Chad caved in to NCP’s pressure and cut ties with JEM to save their necks but they will soon realize that you can’t really trust Bashir gov’t. Libya knows this and it is positioning itself as the real player in the regional search for peace in Darfur. Unless gov’ts in region start acting independently of Khartoum’s hostile actions, they are not going to be credible actors in search for peace in Darfur.
jalabi
Sudan closes borders with Libya amid growing diplomatic tensions
What crazy people??!!!
Many southeners who hate Arab/Jalaba in the north support Khalil Ibrahim the leader of Mujahdeen during the war between north and rebel in the south (Mr Khalil Ibrahim also known by Dabab), I believe they support him and his movement not because they love him or believe on his demands but because they hate people in the north, well, would you accept Darfour to be part of the south and not north? I doubt the answer will be yes, I personally don’t mind to add Darfour, Blue Nile and Nuba mountain to the south because the majority of the south will then be muslims and the culture will then be eastern/oriented culture and not pure African culture like south neighbors. Secular south, none muslims south and western Pro south will never happen in this case (Nigeria is good example). Our goal is to spread islam in Africa continent so feel free to choose any part from the north and we will be more than happy to add it to your Utopia dream country!
Jalabi (Abo Jalabia)