Ghandour denies Khartoum is supporting South Sudanese rebels

May 6, 2014 (KHARTOUM) – Sudan’s presidential assistant, Ibrahim Ghandour, reaffirmed the neutrality of his government towards the ongoing conflict in neighbouring South Sudan.

The presidential aide said that Sudan observes neutrality in the intra South Sudanese conflict. He added that some powers do not want Khartoum succeeds in its efforts to resolve the ongoing crisis.

“Despite the border dispute and other outstanding issues between the two countries, Sudan has frozen all the disputes to help his brothers in the South to heal their wounds and overcome the current crisis”, he said.

Ghandour’s speech come after statements by the former chief of general staff of the South Sudanese army, James Hoth Mai, who accused Khartoum of backing rebels led by Riek Machar.

The general who was relieved after the recapture of Nasir and Bentiu by rebel fighters told Reuters on Monday that three trucks full of ammunition and supplies were captured in the capital of Unity state by the government troops when they retook the town last January.

Ghandour reiterated Sudan commitment to the four freedoms agreement signed in September 2012, adding that this is why Southerners who fled the war are welcomed and live in Sudan.

Sudanese foreign ministry last month, for the first time since the start of the South Sudanese crisis, accused Juba of using fighters of the rebel Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) but the latter didn’t react to these accusations.

(ST)