16 December 2011
Washington — President Salva Kiir Mayadrit denied supporting Sudanese rebels in Blue Nile and South Kordofan states stressing that Juba ruling party distanced itself from its former members since the referendum on self determination in January 2011.
Salva Kiir made these statements on Friday in a press conference held in Washington where he participated in an international engagement conference for South Sudan development.
Kiir who pledged during the conference to promote a climate conducive to attract investors had also to reassure about the growing tension with the northern neighbours caused by the pending issues and the war between his former comrades and Khartoum.
The South Sudan is not supporting the rebel Sudan People’s Liberation Movement – North (SPLM-N) said Kiir. He further accused the Sudanese government of “organizing (rebels) and (..) sending them in waves to come and destabilize the Republic of South Sudan.”
The South Sudanese president pointed out there is no evidence to support the Sudanese accusations. “It is something that nobody can prove. People are guessing,” he said.
He also disclosed that the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) asked the SPLM-N rebels to change the name of their political organization; after the outcome of a referendum on South Sudan independence.
The South Sudanese who chair the SPLM did not elaborate on how and when his party made such demand to the Sudanese rebels. But the party decided before to declare the South Sudan independence to split in two separate entities. Malik Agar was chosen to lead the Sudan’s political organisation.
US envoy to Sudan Princeton Lyman said on 13 December that they vigorously advised Kiir to stop his support to the Sudanese rebels despite his denial of such accusations.
“There’s a historical connection between the people who are fighting there and the SPLA in the South, and we understand that. But we think military support across the border is a dangerous and provocative situation, he said.
South Sudan “denies that they’re doing it. But we have made that point very strongly” he added.
Washington has repeatedly expressed fears that the ongoing fight in the two border- regions between Khartoum army and the rebels spill over into South Sudan.
Salva Kiir dismissed such fears of return to war saying . “We are not going to fight with the North.”
He however denounced the regular bombing carried out by Sudanese warplanes inside South Sudanese stressing that his army will do its duty to defend the population of the new state.
“There is no way that we can allow these people to come and slaughter the innocent civilians. The government must defend the people. They sneak in and they do some damages, but it is all originated from Khartoum,” he said.
Susan Rice, U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, in a speech delivered at the engagement conference, warned that South Sudan security situation remains precarious.
She urged Sudan to stop bombing South Sudanese territory considering it as spillover into the new country; but also asked to settle the outstanding issues with Khartoum.
“South Sudan cannot afford to continue spending 40 percent of its budget on security, particularly as oil production is expected to decline as reserves are depleted,” Rice pointed out.
AllAfrica – All the Time