Alor: Our Relations with Sudan has Reached Worst Levels, and Should Be Promptly Improved

The fierce fighting that plagued South Sudan has now been ended, based on which a new government has been formed. A step as such is expected to reflect positively, not only on South Sudan alone, but also the Sudan as well. This trend prompts many, Southerners and Sudanese, to express their viewpoints on this issue.To begin with, Ibrahim Ghandour, Sudan’s Foreign Affairs Minister said that Sudan wanted to establish good and strong relations with Juba, disclosing that the South Sudan government had been noticed as continually providing support and shelter to the Darfur armed movements. “This happens despite the existence of a security agreement that has been signed between the two countries since the year 2012”, he said, pointing out that Juba used to  implement agreements signed with Sudan selectively. “Those which realize benefits such as oil passage and the Freedom agreement are promptly implemented. The ones that relate to security are just ignored”, he said, concluding his talk by saying that his country had continually kept exerting utmost efforts to end the fighting between the Southern different elements in an attempt to bring in the aspired for political settlement.Likewise, Deng Alour, the newly appointed Foreign Affairs Minister of South Sudan, had promised to work for improvement of his country’s image abroad. “I will work hard  to lift diplomatic embargos imposed on South Sudan because of the latest war”, he said, adding that relations with friendly countries  that had striven hard to let South Sudan gain its independence should be improved, noting that his country’s relations with Sudan had reached worst levels and therefore they should be improved promptly.In the eyes of former foreign affairs minister, Barnaba  Banjamin, the relations of Sudan and South Sudan were eternal and that the two countries were to continue as neighbors  till Doomsday.Sudan’s Official Spokesperson, Dr. Ahmed Bilal Osman, revealed that his country had a lot of reservations against South Sudan, esp. when it comes to provision of support and shelter to rebel movements, confirming that they would not get subjected to negative reactions which might lead to the destabilization of South Sudan, assuring that pending issues between the two nations could only be resolved through determination and direct contact with the Juba government. “The formation of South Sudan government and its declaration of readiness for implementation of agreements signed by the two parties are welcome measures”, he said. Ambassador of South Sudan to Sudan, Mayan Dut, expressed his optimism that the two countries would overcome exchange of accusations of provision of assistance and shelter to the oppositions. “Solution is coming and there are moves to hold the meeting of the political and the security committee during this month, either at Juba, Khartoum, or Addis Ababa’, he said.He refused to tell the agendas of the meeting, stressing that instead of focusing on exchange of accusations, the two countries should get concerned with opening a new chapter if they were to move forwards progressively.The Deputy of South Sudan’s Parliament, Jamsin Samuel, headed a parliamentarian delegation on a visit to Khartoum. She met with Vice President, Hassabu Mohamed Abdul Rahman and informed him that they were very keen to solve all issues of differences between the two countries.The Vice President assured her that they would send a Sudanese delegation of parliamentarians to visit South Sudan soon.Jasmin went on as praising the National Dialogue (ND) in Sudan, expressing their desire to benefit from this and other accumulated experiences of Sudan to overcome issues of differences in her country.She concluded by calling for the drawing of plans aimed at mutually benefiting from experiences of scholars, politicians and legislators.Furthermore, the Secretary General of ND expressed their readiness to assist South Sudan in all dialogue stages. “If for stability and development are to be realized, the Southern dialogue should be all embracing in tackling subjects of differences”, he said.Mohamed Mustafa Al Daw, Chairperson of the External Relations’ Committee at the National Assembly, said that their meeting with the South Sudan’s parliament delegation had clearly discussed all outstanding topics between the two countries, and that the two sides agreed to push forward vigorously for finding solutions to them.Al Sadiq Mohamed Ali, State Minister of Trade, talked about the economy as a factor of boosting relations forward, pointing out that the number of commodities that could be exported southwards was 172, disclosing that now they were embarking on plans for resumption of exportation with South Sudan.Sabit Magok , member of SPLM, indicated that stability of South Sudan would reflect positively on border security, affirming that there was an agreement that Machar had signed which called for expulsion of rebel movements from South Sudan, adding that  the return of Machar would contribute to let stability dominate all spheres; security,  politically and economically.Magok went on as saying that once Machar arrived in Juba, he immediately engaged in addressing a rally that was attended by around 10 thousands of citizens, declaring that he would get rid of all the bad effects in the aftermath of war, therefore the prevalence of peace that would help in the creation of a conducive environment for national reconciliation.Mahjoub Mohamed Salih, Editorin-Chief of Al Ayam  Arabic Daily,  said that there were  many outstanding agreements  between Sudan and South Sudan which were in need of activation if for radical and lasting settlement was to materialize,Osman Merghani, journalist, indicated that, “the public of South Sudan do affiliate to us by blood. And because of because of the borders that have been imposed on us, we get politically separated, but thanks to Allah publicly we are not “.Merghani continued as saying that the length of the joint borders between Sudan and South Sudan was estimated at 2000 kilometers, noting that more than a third of the population of the two nations had been living there, confirming that huge amounts of resources were authenticated to exist there.He argued that long borders as such could not be guarded by guns and official agreements, but rather through only exchange of benefits and common interests.Abdulatif Al Buni, columnist, argued that Khartoum should have to adopt a clear cut policy towards Juba that  was wholly to be  aimed at achieving peaceful coexistence. “Khartoum will be mistaken if it is to build its policies towards South Sudan because Deng Alour has become part of the new government. Instead, we should focus on the objective side, rather than the subjective and personal one”, he said.Lastly, Abraham Mayak Al Bino, writer, blamed the two countries by posing this question, “What benefits have they reaped during the times of boycotting each other?”. His answer was that nothing gained except wasting of time and money which was estimated at billions and billions of dollars.