US warns Sudan that normalisation process jeopardised by Blue Nile fighting
September 7, 2011 (KHARTOUM) – The United States special envoy to Sudan Princeton Lyman expressed concern today over the recent upsurge in fighting between government forces and Sudan People Liberation Movement North (SPLM-N) in South Kordofan and Blue Nile states.
The territories are all still home to tens of thousands of people from ethnic groups that sided with the south during decades of civil war that led up to independence.
Last week fighting broke out between Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and SPLM-N units in Blue Nile state. Both sides traded blame over who provoked the clashes. Sudanese president Omer Hassan al-Bashir declared a state of emergency in Blue Nile and removed its SPLM-N governor Malik Agar.
In June of this year SAF and SPLM-N engaged in heavy fighting in the oil-rich state of South Kordofan that has yet to be quelled. As with Blue Nile, the two sides accused each other of firing the first shot.
President Bashir scrapped an African Union framework agreement on South Kordofan despite being signed by his powerful assistant Nafie Ali Nafie. The Sudanese leader instructed SAF to continue military operations until they capture the former deputy governor Abdel-Aziz al-Hilu who is leading SPLA units there.
A recent mediation attempt by Ethiopian president Meles Zenawi failed to yield results.
The visiting US special envoy on Wednesday said the situation in the border states is “very dangerous”.
“The two sides are not still talking to each other. That means the situation remains very dangerous. Fighting is going on,” Lyman said after meeting Sudan’s Foreign Minister, Ali Ahmed Karti, and other officials.
Lyman also criticised Khartoum’s decision to close down SPLM-N offices.
“If there is going to be a discussion and political talks, who are you going to talk to? Of course you are going to talk to the SPLM-North. It’s a major political party in Sudan. Closing down offices does not help,” he said.
The US official also warned Sudan that the process of normalising ties is in danger given the humanitarian situation in the two states.
“We continue to want to move along that path to normalisation” of relations between the United States and Sudan,” the special envoy said.
“But clearly when you have a situation like has happened in Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile, that throws an obstacle in the way,” he said, adding that the violence raised a number of “serious problems,” including charges of human rights violations that have to be investigated and addressed.
“Certainly we can’t go forward… if we have a major conflict going on, and we have humanitarian and human rights issues that haven’t been addressed”.
Today the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said that “UN agencies and international humanitarian partners… have requested permission from the government to travel to Sennar [the neighbouring state] and to secure parts of northern Blue Nile state to assess the situation and assist in addressing humanitarian needs”.
“But they have so far been denied access to do so,” it said, adding that, as in nearby South Kordofan, where a similar three-month-old conflict is still raging, the government has insisted that aid be provided through national partners such as the Sudanese Red Crescent.
Today the Sudanese army issued a statement revealing fresh fighting south of the Blue Nile state capital of Damazin.
“The armed forces clashed with remnants of Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) on Wednesday afternoon near Bau town in Blue Nile state, and inflicted heavy losses on them,” Al-Sawarmi Khalid Sa’ad was quoted as saying by the Sudan’s official news agency (SUNA).
The army spokesperson also said that several SAF soldiers had been killed or injured.
Sudan accused its southern neighbour of pushing the SPLM-N to rebel against the central government but Juba dismissed the claims.
The US official suggested that Khartoum’s claim may have merits and urged South Sudan to stay out of the conflicts in the two states and instead try to encourage the SPLM-N to find a peaceful solution with Khartoum.
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MINDED.DUDE
U.S. warns Sudan that normalization process jeopardized by Blue Nile fighting
U.S need to shut up and mind their own business against south sudanese.
we don’t support shit there,so U.S administration is playing wrong role and wrong politic at Blue Nile and south kordofan.
mohammed ali
U.S. warns Sudan that normalization process jeopardized by Blue Nile fighting
First, that some rebels leaders sided with the SPLA does not mean the people of South Kordofan and the Blue Nile. Agar won the elections because there were two candidates for the NCP, the vast majority in the parlement are from the NCP, in Kordufan Al Hilo lost the elections and the majority of the parlement are NCP.
I donnot see what is the importance of normalization of relationship with the USA! We have been doing very well without them.
The CPA stipulated very clearly that they militia should disarm within 36 months after signing the CPA. The agreement was signed with only one SPLA.There was nothing called SPLA-N. If they want to register as a ligitimate political party, they have the full right to do so. But first they should disarm
Makuei
U.S. warns Sudan that normalization process jeopardized by Blue Nile fighting
@Ali – “popular consultation” before disarment, fools!
Logic
U.S. warns Sudan that normalization process jeopardized by Blue Nile fighting
Makuei
Don’t bother yourself with these racist supremacists, they will always defend their NCP. They are fully aware of the atrocities committed in the name of the Sudanese people and religion.
Just remember how defiant all the ousted leaders and their spokespersons were before they were deposed, Bashir’s end time is very close, I can assure you of that. Its funny how these bigots keep quite on the face of the revelations about how divided and tribal their NCP is but are quick to point the finger at S. Sudan’s ills.
Mohammed Ali, Jalaby, Sam.Eto and Khartoum92 etc etc … can all suck a dick! They are just mere internet mouthpieces for the regime, a bunch of cowards. A reasonable argument doesn’t work with them, they’re totally indoctrinated by the NCP and their misguided ideology, otherwise how can they constantly insult Israel foe attacking Palestinians but don’t utter a word when their fellow Sudanese are being massacred by the NCP.
Fuck em all..
Force 1
U.S. warns Sudan that normalization process jeopardized by Blue Nile fighting
Logic, you truly have no idea of what race mean do you? How could you portray them as racist when they are of the same race as you’re?!
Adiem Dhook
U.S. warns Sudan that normalization process jeopardized by Blue Nile fighting
USA want Sudan totally transform from terrorers organiztion into legimate government of Sudan.Where the human rights,enthic diversity,and different religoins are recognize,respect,and value.Therefore,the normalization people are bitterly crying for will com.
pabaak
U.S. warns Sudan that normalization process jeopardized by Blue Nile fighting
Makuei,follow the new developments, popular consolation is not worthy at moment, SPLM and other groups has already form broad coalition that will bring down the regime in Khartoum. this is a time marginalizes want to end the suffering of their people.
SPLA/SPLM and marginalizes oyee, New Sudan oyee
pabaak
U.S. warns Sudan that normalization process jeopardized by Blue Nile fighting
Ali, you always don’t admit the reality and that what you are known for. People of the Nuba Mountain, Blue Nile, and Darfur are known in the world for suffering at the hands of successive regimes in Khartoum, they didn’t just side with SPLA as you said it, they were fighting for their freedom as South Sudanese did. Agar and Hilo were mandated by their people to lead them in this struggle, that’s why Agar won the election, NCP were unable to steal the vote in Blue Nile because they feared most of Agar than Hilo, they underestimated AL Hilo reaction to vote stealing in election, that’s why NCP still election in southern Kordofan.
mohammed ali
U.S. warns Sudan that normalization process jeopardized by Blue Nile fighting
Logic,
Profani sprak as what type of family you are coming from.That last sister you better go and do it for your sister!
Makuei,
CPA stipulates disarment or joining the respective army. NCP did it with all millitia from the South. SPLA did not, Agar and Al Hilo want to be politicians and millitia leaders. If you agree with that and support NCP will support all the rebells and dicntented tribes in the South. Will that make you happy.
The mistake of the NCPis that they did not follow through with the CPA and disarm SPLA in the north 36 months after signing the CPA. If that happened we would have avoided an unnecessary war!
Yale
US warns Sudan that normalisation process jeopardised by Blue Nile fighting
SPLA in blue nile killed 250 sudan armed forces near Bua when they trying to come out from Al Damazin.