Mbeki downplays prospects of full scale war between two Sudans
April 5,2012 (JUBA) — The chair of the African Union High Implementation Panel on Sudan (AUHIP), former South African President, Thabo Mbeki, on Thursday, dismissed fear and speculation of war between Khartoum and Juba.
Mbeki made the remark on his arrival at Juba International Airport, expressing optimism that the ongoing talks will produce substantial results and reduce current tension between the two neighbouring countries.
“Our visit is basically to meet with the leadership of this country. We will meet President Salva Kiir to brief him on the progress and to hear from him and the leadership,” Mbeki told reporters on Thursday.
He explained that differences between the two sides will not destabilise either country. “I have a confidence that the leadership of the two countries will reach an understanding to resolve issues currently under discussion,” he added.
Mbeki who is blamed by Juba for his criticism of their positions in the talks, is expected to suggest to President Salva Kiir that he meet his Sudanese counterpart Omer al-Bashir in Addis Ababa instead of the aborted meeting in Juba.
The presidential summit is seen crucial by the mediation and the international community to ease the tension between the two capitals and to push towards a quick agreement on security issues.
Bashir called off a meeting planed on 3 April after an attack on the Heglig area of South Kordofan carried out by South Sudanese army. Sudanese rebels of the Sudan Revolutionary Front (SRF) were reportedly also involved in the attack. At the time, Kiir publicly claimed his troops were controlling the oil producing area. South Sudan has said that its attack on Heglig was in response to a SAF attack on Unity State.
However, South Sudan information minister, Barnaba Marial Benjamin, told London-based pan-Arab newspaper, Asharq Alawsat, that Kiir insisted in his meeting with Mbeki that the meeting should be held in Juba as planned and refused to organise it in Addis Ababa.
“Bashir has to determine when he will meet Salva Kiir. For our part we are ready to receive him,” he emphasised.
The former South African president said the ongoing disputes have to do with both nations’ efforts to manage diversity and build a sense of cohesion and the economic viability of the two states.
“The issues being discussed are diverse in terms of economic, in terms of political, in terms of social relation, in terms of level of development. You have to find the way of mutually all these issues so that none of the parties feels aggrieved to affect implementation. Certainly this is one of the matters that we are working with the government of the Republic of South Sudan. The government of Sudan will also be to pay similar attention and act,” Mbeki said.
(ST)