South Sudan seeks Kenyan mediation in Abyei

February 20, 2012 (KHARTOUM) – The government of South Sudan is trying to convince Kenya to mediate between Khartoum and Juba regarding the disputed region of Abyei and conflicts in Sudan’s border regions of South Kordofan and Blue Nile, according to media reports.

South Sudan’s state radio reported on Sunday that the country’s presidential adviser Joseph Lagu made the revelation during a diplomatic training session held recently in Kenya’s coastal city of Mombasa.

Lagu reportedly stated that he was confident that Kenya in its capacity as a leading African nation could play a positive role in helping Sudan and South Sudan address the unfinished business of the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA).

The CPA, which was signed in Kenya under regional and international mediation, ended more than two decades of north-south civil wars in the former united Sudan and paved the way for South Sudan’s declaration of independence in July last year.

However, failure to fully implement the deal meant that the new neighbours remained at odds over a host of post-secession issues including the status of Abyei, a region claimed by both.

Sudan’s border states of South Kordofan and Blue Nile also plunged into an episode of violence due to failure to implement the security arrangements portion of the CPA in the two states which contain a large number of rebels who fought alongside the southern army.

Lagu blamed the eruption of conflicts in South Kordofan and Blue Nile on Khartoum’s failure to honor the CPA-mandated popular consultations in the two states.

According to the southern official, the government in Khartoum was behaving like an ostrich burying its head in the sand in the face of numerous problems.

He urged the leaders in Khartoum to see the reality and refrain from attacking South Sudan’s territories.

Talks between Sudan and South Sudan on post-secession issues including Abyei are mediated by the African Union High Level Panel led by former South African President Thabo Mbeki.

South Sudan previously criticised Sudan for seeking Egyptian mediation on post-secession issues, accusing Khartoum of attempting to confuse mediation efforts by the AUHIP in Addis Ababa.

The Sudanese government accuses South Sudan of supporting rebels in South Kordofan and Blue Nile. Khartoum does not appear to be seeking a negotiated solution to the crisis in the two states.

(ST) ”]