S. Sudan to file complaint to UNSC over Khartoum aggression
November 25, 2012 (JUBA) – South Sudan is due to launch a formal complaint to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) over Sudan’s alleged violation of its territorial integrity, Information Minister, Barnaba Benjamin Marial said.
“This wanton attack in the territory of the Republic of South Sudan is unacceptable. We have recorded the details of these air bombardments and asked our representatives to submit formal complaints to the UN Security Council and to African Union (AU) and to some of the neighboring members of the Security Council,” he said.
The attack, Marial added, is a complete violation of the cooperation agreement the two country’s leaders signed in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on 27 September.
On Friday, South Sudan council of ministers, during its regular sitting chaired by President Salva Kiir, urged the international community to hold Sudan responsible for what it described as “continuous unprovoked attack.”
“The council of ministers in its sitting chaired by President Salva Kiir Mayardit today [Friday] received and listened to reports of repeated aerial bombardments, in which some civilians have been killed in the state of Northern Bahr el Ghazal. On behalf of the government of South Sudan, the council passed a resolution condemning these malicious and wanton bombardments by the Sudan government in the area of Northern Bahr el Ghazal, especially in Kiir Adem where lots of civilians have been killed”, said Marial.
The Sudanese army denied attacking the South Sudanese territory of Northern Bahr el-Ghazal stressing that its attacks are limited to the neighboring East Darfur state where it had spoke about newly established rebel camps, 10 kilometers north to the disputed area of mile 14.
Al-Sawarmi Khaled, Sudanese army spokesperson, also accused Juba of continuing to back the rebel group’s members of the Sudanese Revolutionary Front (SRF) violating a security deal were the two sides committed to stop such support.
Since, the Sudanese army remains silent on its activities on the borders with the South Sudan.
MASSIVE PROTESTS
On Saturday, thousands of the population in Northern Bahr el Ghazal state demonstrated in protest against the aerial bombardments; a day after the council of ministers’ resolution.
The protestors, eyewitnesses told Sudan Tribune, largely advocated for stronger actions, including the national parliament’s approval of the army to react to such aggression, instead of using diplomatic means.
“We need to play our part at these trying moments. We know the actions of Sudan are of course unacceptable but we must study the result of whatever action we need to take in respond to these aggressions,” Deng Thiep Akok, an ex-commissioner of Aweil North County said on Saturday.
However, Phillip Aguer, the spokesperson of South Sudan army (SPLA) on Wednesday told Sudan Tribune that any form of retaliation from the army against external aggression, would require approval from the country’s leadership.
(ST)