Sudan: Khartoum Calls for Security Deal With South

Khartoum — Sudan's foreign minister has urged South Sudan to settle security file in a manner to pave the way for the implementation of the recent border and four freedoms agreements reached this week in Addis Ababa.

Delegation of the two countries participating in the African Union brokered talks on Tuesday 13 March initialed two agreements on border demarcation and status of nationals residing in both countries.

In line with the second deal, Sudanese and South Sudanese enjoy freedoms of residence, movement, as well as freedoms to undertake economic activities and to acquire and dispose of property in both countries.

Sudan's President Omer Hassan al-Bashir is expected to visit Juba during the first week of April to sign these agreements together with South Sudanese President Salva Kiir Mayadrit.

"We hope with this new spirit, be discussed the other outstanding issues, especially security matters, which will accelerate the improvement of bilateral relations," minister Ali Ahmed Karti told London based Asharq Alawsat newspaper published on Saturday.

Karti pointed out the need to intensify meetings of security committees prior to the presidential summit to reach an agreement about it. He stressed this will contribute as much as effective in addressing other pending issues like oil fees and achieve stability in the two countries.

Sudan accuses South Sudan of harbouring rebel groups from Blue Nile, Darfur and South Kordofan. It also accused Juba of actively participating with the rebel groups in some attacks on the disputed area of Jau located at the border between the two countries. On the other hand, Juba accuses Khartoum of supporting rebel groups in Unity and Jonglei states.

On 10 February, the two countries signed a pact of non aggression. The deal was signed by the head of South Sudan's intelligence bureau, Thomas Douth, and Sudan's director of national intelligence and security, Mohammed Atta.

Sources close to the African mediation say this agreeùent was designed in a way to allow the two sides to develop it and to stop their support to the rebel groups from both sides.

Karti emphasized that Juba support to the Sudanese rebels casts a shadow on the relations between the two countries and increases tensions between them. He pointed out only the political will can address the outstanding issues.

In Khartoum a far right party Just Peace Forum (JPF) launched a campaign against the four freedoms deal because it authorizes over 500.000 Southerners to remain in the north saying it is a threat to the national security.

Many pro-JPF mosques in Khartoum dedicated their sermons of Friday prayer to express their opposition to this pact and urged the President to reject it as he did with the 28 June 2011 framework agreement signed with the SPLM-N on the settlement of South Kordofan conflict.

The South Sudan proclaimed its independence lat July following a referendum on self determination in accordance with a peace deal signed in 2005 with the former rebel SPLM. However issues like oil transit fees, border demarcations and Abyei are still unresolved.

The armed conflict with SPLM-N rebels who have historical relations with Juba, impacted negatively the talks between the two parties. Sudan recently confiscated South Sudanese oil accusing Juba of funding the rebels to overthrow the regime and refusing to pay the transit fees.