Khartoum says Juba vowed to drive out Sudanese rebels within three weeks

August 29, 2016 (KHARTOUM) – Sudanese government on Monday disclosed the First Vice-President of South Sudan Taban Deng Gai has promised during his recent visit to Khartoum that Juba would evict Sudanese rebels from its territory within three weeks.

Last week, Gai concluded a three-day visit to Khartoum where he handed over President Omer al-Bashir a special message from South Sudan’s President Silva Kiir Mayardit.

Sudan’s Minister of Information and official spokesperson Ahmed Bilal Osman on Monday told the semi-official Sudan Media Center (SMC) that his government is waiting for Juba to fulfil the promises made by Gai to drive out Sudanese rebels from South Sudan’s territory within three weeks.

He described his government’s relations with South Sudan’s government as good, saying they work to maintain unity within the newborn nation and to support efforts of the United Nations to achieve stability in the country.

Following his meeting with the Sudanese President Omer al-Bashir last week, Gai didn’t rule out that the outstanding security issues between Juba and Khartoum would be settled within three weeks, directing his defence minister to immediately implement instructions of the top leadership in both countries to resolve the security issues.

He said that his government wouldn’t allow Sudanese rebels to work within South Sudan’s territory to threaten Sudan’s security, stressing his country wouldn’t harbour rebel groups who wage war against Khartoum.

“We hope that Sudan wouldn’t serve as a launching pad for Machar,” he added.

South Sudan seceded from Sudan on July 9th 2011 following a referendum on whether the semi-autonomous region should remain a part of the country or become independent. 99% of the southern voters chose independence.

Relations between the two nations soured after South Sudan’s independence following a series of disputes over a number of issues, particularly accusations of support to rebel groups .

(ST)