Sudan blames Juba for non-implementation of cooperation deals
August 19, 2014 (KHARTOUM) – During a meeting with the head of the African Union High-Level Implementation Panel (AUHIP), Thabo Mbeki, Sudanese first vice-president Bakri Hassan Saleh, blamed Juba for delaying the implementation of a series of bilateral cooperation agreements.
On Tuesday Bakri discussed with Mbeki the implementation of the Cooperation Agreement reached on 27 September 2012, which provides to establish a buffer zone met on the border and to stop support to the rebel groups.
As the two neighbours are still discussing the border demarcation, the AUHIP proposed to create a zero line aiming to determine the baseline for the demilitarised border area. But the South Sudanese government failed to withdraw its troops from the zone and the agreed monitoring mechanism is not yet operational .
“The first vice-president explained to Mbeki that he understands the critical circumstances the South Sudan experiencing despite its procrastination” to implement the cooperation agreement, said the state minister at the Sudanese presidency, al-Rashid Haroun.
Haroun who also mentioned the presence of the Sudanese rebels in South Sudan further said that Sahel underscored the need to determine the zero line to open border passages.
On Abyei, the state minister said that Saleh reaffirmed the need to establish a joint administration and the legislative council before to conduct a referendum on the future of the disputed area.
Mbeki is expected to travel to Juba for talks with the South Sudanese government on the implementation of the cooperation agreement.
Juba recently accused Khartoum of providing military support to the rebel SPLM in Opposition that fights against the government of president Salva Kiir since December 2013.
(ST)