UN chief calls on the two Sudans to activate border monitoring

By Julius N. Uma

April 21, 2012 (JUBA) – The UN Secretary-General on Friday issued a statement in reaction to Juba’s announcement to pull its troops out of the disputed oil-rich Heglig region, which it controlled for over a week.

Ban Ki-Moon, in a statement said he “takes note” of South Sudan’s announcement on the matter and urged both sides to resume negotiations on the outstanding issues between them.

Juba and Khartoum were engaged in a series of post-independence talks under the auspices of the Thabo Mbeki-led African Union High-Level Panel (AUHIP). However, the increased tensions between the two nations has led to talks being put on hold.

Shortly after Juba announced the withdrawal of its army (SPLA), Sudan claimed “victory” in Heglig, saying its forces had defeated the SPLA and regained “full control” of the region.

Barnaba Benjamin Marial, South Sudan’s government spokesperson on Friday dismissed Khartoum’s claims, saying the withdrawal of the army from the disputed region followed an order taken by the country’s president Salva Kiir.

“The Republic of South Sudan announces that SPLA troops have been ordered to withdraw from Panthou [Heglig],” Marial told reporters in Juba, the South Sudan capital.

“An orderly withdrawal will commence immediately, and shall be completed within three days,” he added.

Ban urged both governments to activate the joint border verification and monitoring mechanism to help ensure the security of their common border. All measures, he added, have been taken to ensure that United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) monitors are ready to be deployed.

UNISFA, was established in June last year under the terms of Security Council resolution 1990 (2011) to monitor and verify the redeployment of any Sudan Armed Forces or Sudan People’s Liberation Army troops from the Abyei area. It comprises a maximum of 4,200 military personnel, 50 police personnel, and appropriate civilian support.

Ban also reiterated the call for Sudan to stop bombing South Sudanese territories, while urging both governments to cease their support to each other’s rebel groups. Both Sudan and South Sudan trade accusations that it is backing rebel movements opposed to each other’s regime.

(ST)