Sudan summons South Sudan ambassador over hostile media campaign

July 15, 2015 (KHARTOUM) – Sudan’s foreign ministry on Wednesday has summoned the South Sudanese ambassador, Mayan Dut Waal, to protest against Juba’s support to Sudanese rebels besides hostile media campaign against Khartoum.

Following the recapture of Malakal by the SPLM-IO fighters by the end of June, the Juba Telegraph, a daily newspaper owned by the press secretary of president Salva Kiir, published a series of opinion articles accusing Sudan of arming, training and providing logistical supports to the armed opposition fighters allied to former vice-president, Riek Machar.

The director of South Sudan department at Sudan’s foreign ministry, Abdallah Hassan Issa, has conveyed to Waal Sudan’s protest against Juba’s support to Sudanese armed groups besides the negative media campaign launched by pro-government newspapers against Khartoum, the foreign ministry said on Wednesday.

Issa stressed to Waal the need to respect the international charters and good neighbourly relations between the two nations, asking him to inform his government to stop the hostile acts and media campaigns against Sudan, the statement further said.

The South Sudanese ambassador for his part promised to convey Sudan’s protest to his government as soon as possible.

Last week, South Sudan’s president, Salva Kiir Mayardit, held Khartoum responsible for hindering development in his country in the past, saying it shares oil revenues with the newborn state.

(ST)