Is UNSC only legitimate to Sudan in complaint times? By Zechariah Manyok Biar
May 19, 2012 — Sudanese leaders seem to think they are smarter than anybody else in this world. They seem to recognize the legitimacy of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) whenever it is time for them to complain about something. When the UNSC members agree to deal with the issue presented to them in a meaningful way, the Sudanese become selective on what the UNSC members should tell them and what they should not tell them. They seem to be using the UNSC a means to their end. This is shown by the complaint the Sudanese lodged with the UNSC against South Sudan recently over the new South Sudan’s map. On May 19, 2012, the Undersecretary of the Sudanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs Rahmatallah Mohamed Osman was quoted by the Sudan Tribune as saying this: "We call on the Security Council to apply the necessary measures against the Republic of South Sudan, including measures relating to the violation of [UNSC) decision." One wonders what that means legally if one carefully follows how Sudan behaves in relation to the UNSC and South Sudan! I do not think the memory of the Undersecretary is that short to remember that it was the Sudanese Parliament that rejected some elements of UNSC resolution on May 9, 2012. Not only that, President Bashir said this on the following day: “We only do the things we want to do. And no security council or the whole world for the matter can force us to act otherwise.” Was it the map of South Sudan that let President Bashir defy the UNSC resolution? If what constitutes major violation of the resolution is the adding of disputed areas to any map of the two Sudans, then who has violated the resolution the most between those who maintain these areas in their map and occupying them at the same time and those who are adding them to their map in theory and have withdrawn from them until the solution is found, as directed by the UNSC resolution 2046? The Undersecretary seems to have forgotten that it was the same UNSC resolution 2046 that ordered both the Sudan and South Sudan to withdraw their forces from the disputed areas and return to the negotiating table within two weeks. Who is still in the clearly disputed are of Abyei now? It is the Sudanese army. The police from South Sudan was verified by the UN last week to have completely pulled out from Abyei. Who is now violating resolution 2046? What evidence can the Undersecretary show for Sudan’s respect for the UNSC? But we can show many examples of Sudan’s disrespect for the organization. For example, it was the same UNSC which issued a statement ordering both the Sudanese Government and the rebels in Southern Kordofan early this year to allow the delivery of aid to civilians in the area. But the Sudanese Government said on May 16, 2012 that it will not recognize humanitarian surveys in South Kordofan. Why then did Sudan not listen to UNSC this time if it follows its directives? All the above shows that Sudanese leaders really think they are smarter than anybody else in the international community. They bite South Sudanese harder and become the first to cry louder that we are criminals. Will the international community believe these leaders? Zechariah Manyok Biar lives in Juba, Republic of South Sudan. He can be reached at [email protected] The views expressed in the 'Comment and Analysis' section are solely the opinions of the writers. The veracity of any claims made are the responsibility of the author not Sudan Tribune. If you want to submit an opinion piece or an analysis please email it to [email protected] Sudan Tribune reserves the right to edit articles before publication. Please include your full name, relevant personal information and political affiliations. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "South Sudan Info - The Kob" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/SouthSudanKob?hl=en.
