Khartoum turns down calls to conduct solo mediation in South Sudan
August 2, 2016 (KHARTOUM) – Sudan has declined a proposal by some international partners to conduct a solo mediation between the warring parties in South Sudan, a diplomat said on Tuesday.
The Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (JMEC) Partners Group, the body overseeing the implementation of South Sudan peace agreement signed in August last year, which includes senior international members, convened in Khartoum on Sunday and discussed the developments in South Sudan and the role of the international committee to convince the conflicting parties to abide by ceasefire agreement.
Foreign Ministry Spokesperson, Garib Allah Khidir, told reporters that some international partners have urged Sudan to take a direct sole role beside its role within IGAD to solve the conflict in South Sudan.
Khidir stressed that Sudan turned down the request to avoid creating any sensitivities with the conflicting parties in South Sudan.
“Sudan is sticking to its role within the IGAD only,” said Khidir.
Khartoum relationship with Juba since the independence has been instable and tainted by suspicion.
The government of President Kiir accused the Sudanese government of supporting the rebels several months after the beginning of the conflict. Also, Khartoum accuses Juba of supporting the rebel groups in the Two Areas and Darfur.
JMEC Chairman, former President of Botswana Festus Mogae, told reporters on Monday in Khartoum that IGAD leaders will meet on Friday in Addis Ababa to call on the international leaders to intervene to put an end to the conflict in South Sudan.
Following a meeting with President Omer al-Bashir along with the Chinese Special Envoy Zhong Jianhua, Mogae told reporters, that he briefed the Sudanese president on JMEC views on the developments in South Sudan.
He further said JMEC partners accepted a proposals during calling for high level intervention,( heads of state or government) to deal with the situation in South Sudan.
The international partners have called, at the end of their meeting in Khartoum on Sunday, on South Sudan President Silva Kiir to stop the hunt for his former First Vice President Riek Machar and his forces, to put the peace process back on track and to conduct comprehensive investigation to bring those involved in ceasefire violations to justice.
(ST)