Machar Calls for Creation of Buffer Zone Between North And South

15 June 2011

Juba — The Vice President of the soon-to-be independent Republic of South Sudan, Riek Machar, has appealed to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to establish a “buffer zone” between North and South Sudan in order to avoid military confrontations as the region will formally become independent in three weeks time.

He also called on the world body to take immediate action to prevent the situation in the contested region of Abyei and the northern border state of South Kordofan escalating. He echoed calls from other members of the South Sudan government, demanding the unconditional withdrawal of the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) from Abyei.

South Sudan has been at war with the North for most of the 55 years since Sudan became independent in 1956. The region enjoyed relative peace for 17 years from 1972, when the Addis Ababa Agreement was signed, but war resumed in 1983.

The second phase of the war took 21 years and ended in 2005 when another peace deal was signed between the Sudan government, represented by the National Congress Party (NCP) and the former southern rebels – the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM).

In the self-determination referendum provided for in the peace deal and conducted in January this year, the people of South Sudan voted overwhelmingly for secession from the rest of Sudan and shall become formally independent on July 9.

However, recent clashes in Abyei and South Kordufan state have raised tensions between the partners to the peace deal with the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) carrying out operations close to the border. South Sudan has also accused the North of bombing just inside Unity State.

On Tuesday the South Sudan’s Vice President held separate meetings with the permanent members of the Security Council, which included the ambassadors from US, UK, France, China and Russia.

Sources close to the Vice President in New York told the Sudan Tribune that Machar described his meetings with the UN’s key ambassadors as “positive.” They discussed the UN presence in South Sudan and creation of a buffer zone.

He also discussed with them issues pertaining to the situation in Abyei, South Kordofan and Blue Nile areas, the source added.

In his meeting with the US ambassador to UN, Susan Rice, Machar explained that despite the peaceful approach by the Government of Southern Sudan to resolve the crisis, the situation may worsen unless immediate appropriate action is taken by the world body.

Machar warned that “ethnic cleansing is looming in South Kordofan” while the actions of the Sudan Armed Forces in Abyei indicate “genocide in the making.”

He was scheduled to brief the United Nations Security Council’s session in New York on Friday, June 17, about the updated situation in the country.

AllAfrica – All the Time