Khartoum says it has evidence Juba supports rebels
Sudan’s Foreign Minister Ali Ahmed Karti met the South Sudanese President Salva Kiir on Friday, May 17 in Juba and alerted him to his nation’s concerns.
Karti told reporters that he handed Kiir a letter from President Omar al-Bashir, detailing evidence of Juba’s support to rebel groups, including the SPLA-North.
President Bashir has some information indicating the entrance of some military assistance to the armed groups in South Kordofan region crossing from the border between South Sudan and Sudan. All these things we informed President Kiir,” Karti said.
Ali Ahmed Karti arrives at Juba International Airport and is received by Sudan’s Ambassador to South Sudan, May 17.
Karti did not provide detail on the contents of the letter from Bashir.
The meeting was also attended by the chief of Sudan’s intelligence service, Mohamed Atta.
Rebels from the Sudan Revolutionary Front recently attacked Um-Rawaba and Abu-Karshola. They said the attacks were part of a strategy to weaken the government before they launch a final assault on the capital, Khartoum.
Khartoum and Juba regularly accuse each other of supporting rebels on each other’s territory. These latest accusations, however, come as rebel groups have increased attacks in both Sudan and South Sudan.
The state owned Sudan News Agency, SUNA, has reported that on Tuesday Foreign Minister Karti summoned Western diplomats, including the British, American, and Norwegian ambassadors to inform them about South Sudan’s alleged support of rebel movements.
On Friday, Karti warned Juba about continuing to support rebels. If such doubts continue then it will have a negative impact in the relationship between the two countries as the relationship in terms of security actually depends on trust. And if people mistrust themselves then it will definitely have a negative impact on the process of implementation of the agreements especially security agreements between the two countries,” he said.
If such doubts continue then it will have a negative impact in the relationship between the two countries.”
Karti said he believed the two countries would resolve the matter and would push ahead to implement recent cooperation agreements. He added that he received assurances from President Kiir that Juba would investigate Sudan’s allegations.
South Sudan’s Foreign Minister Nhial Deng Nhial briefed reporters after Karti, confirming that Juba will investigate Sudan’s accusations. He said both sides agreed to continue to build trust and better relations between the two countries.
Relations between the two countries have improved in recent months after Juba and Khartoum agreed to implement the September 27th accords signed last year in Ethiopia.
