Foreign powers urge North & South Sudan to resume post-split talk

March 15, 2011 (NAIROBI) – A tripartite group of foreign powers which helped broker a 2005’s peace deal between north and south Sudan has expressed concern over the breakdown of separation arrangements talks between the two sides, urging them to maintain dialogue.

A joint statement released on Tuesday by members of the Sudan Troika – the United States, Norway and Britain – expressed “serious concern” over the south’s decision this weekend to freeze talks with the north on post-separation issues after the south chose to split from the north in a referendum conducted in January this year under the 2005’s Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), which ended nearly half a century of north-south’s intermittent civil wars.

The three countries, which played a major role in establishing the CPA, said it was “critical” for north and south Sudan to resume the talks from which the south withdrew citing alleged support by Khartoum to the south’s renegade army general Gorge Athor whose forces attacked Malakal town in the Upper Nile State this week before being rebelled by South Sudan army.

The South accused the north-based government led by President Al-Bashir of planning to overthrow the government in the south ahead of the region’s formal independence in July this year, saying it would be suspending talks with the north “until it stops its policy for obstructing stability in South Sudan, and until after the Security Council’s investigation is concluded,” as put by the south’s minister of peace affairs Pagan Amum.

The Troika’s statement urged “President Bashir and First Vice President Kiir [also President of South Sudan] to take steps against alleged actions that destabilize each other’s governments and territories, and to lay the ground for mutual cooperation with the goal of the creation of two viable states in July.”

Tension has been exacerbated by recent violence in Abyei region whose ownership is claimed by both north and south Sudan. The status of the region was supposed to be determined via a referendum in January but the vote has been held hostage to disagreements between north and south Sudan over who can vote in the plebiscite.

“We call upon the parties to take immediate measures to restrain armed groups under their influence, and to resume bilateral discussions on conditions for their withdrawal,” the troika’s statement said in reference to the situation in Abyei where recent violence was prompted by clashes between armed militias of the north-backed Messirya cattle-herding tribe and South Sudan police stationed in the region.

The United Nations Mission in Sudan (UNMIS), which is mandated to monitor the CPA, has increased patrolling of Abyei and deployed an extra force of peacekeepers there to prevent further violence.

But a statement by the UN’s Secretary-General on Monday complained that the mission had been “consistently refused access” to areas of conflict in Abyei and “considerably restricted” in its movement, urging north and south Sudan to allow UNMIS “unhindered” access to these areas in order to assess the situation and immediate needs on the ground.

The three countries condemned restrictions on UNMIS movement, reminding both parties of their obligation to permit “full access” to Abyei by UNMIS peacekeepers.

Meanwhile, France has deplored the violence that took place in Southern Sudan, calling on each party to “act responsibly and to refrain from violence during this crucial period for the future of the people of Sudan.”

The statement of the French foreign ministry said that the “resolution of post-referendum issues must be part of a constructive and responsible dialogue.”

(ST)