Juba summons Sudanese envoy over rebel support claims
December 19, 2014 (JUBA/KHARTOUM) – South Sudan on Thursday summoned the Sudanese envoy to the country over what it described as hostile statements from senior officials in the Khartoum regime.
“It was not actually a summon, it was rather some kind of official interaction to discuss issues of mutual interest and benefits and to see how the two countries can work together to strengthen bilateral ties and build on the achievement which have been made so far,” Makol told Sudan Tribune on Friday.
He said the Juba government also wanted to know why Khartoum used the media to convey its grievances against the former instead of using mechanisms stipulated in the 2012 cooperation agreement.
According to Makol, the Sudanese envoy regretted that senior members of his government rushed into statements without using proper diplomatic channels in its attempt to draw South Sudan’s attention.
“The Sudanese ambassador saw the importance of addressing these issues through the mechanisms which have been established in the 2012 cooperation agreement,” said the foreign affairs spokesperson.
“He [Mutrif] regretted and suggested that the two ministers of foreign affairs meet to discuss the way forward, which we accepted,” he added.
Makol, however, said a meeting would be organised for the two foreign ministers to meet and further discuss matters at hand.
“Because this is one of the mechanisms through which issues like this can be raised and addressed at the higher level”, he stressed.
The Sudanese ambassador told the state-owned SSTV there were substantial claims between the two countries, but expressed optimism such issues would be overcome.
Relations between Sudan and South Sudan have been shaky since the latter seceded from its northern neighbour on July 2011. Khartoum and Juba continue to trade accusations of support to rebel groups from both sides since South Sudan attained independence.
FRESH ACCUSATIONS
Last week, the director of Sudan’s National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS), Mohamed Atta, warned South Sudan against supporting and funding Sudanese rebels, particularly the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM).
He threatened to pursue rebel groups inside the South Sudanese territory, adding they have endured enough Juba support to the Sudanese Revolutionary Front (SRF) rebels. He further said they will “chase them anywhere”.
Also, Sudan’s foreign ministry spokesperson said on Sunday that “the government has documented information” about this support and demanded that Juba swiftly implements the signed agreements, to stop harboring and supporting the SRF rebels.
“DECLARATION OF WAR”
However, South Sudan army (SPLA) spokesperson Col. Philip Aguer stressed that his country takes statements of Sudanese officials seriously, saying the Sudanese government sought to declare war against his country since long time ago.
“Now Khartoum has declared war against South Sudan and we deal with the statements of the [Sudanese] government officials seriously and we are ready for their [declared] war against us,” he said
He denied presence of any Sudanese rebel groups within his country’s territory, considering Khartoum’s accusations nothing but a pretext to declare war against a sovereign state.
Aguer further said the international community is aware that Khartoum provided support to South Sudanese rebels led by former vice-president Riek Machar since war erupted in the country last December.
He claimed they had reliable information that South Sudanese rebels are being transferred to the south from different locations in Sudan.
Abdun Terkoc, the undersecretary in South Sudan’s foreign ministry reiterated his country’s commitment to the Cooperation Agreement.
“The government of the republic South Sudan remains ready and fully committed to the implementation of the cooperation it has signed with the government of Sudan,” he told reporters Thursday.
(ST)