---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: John Ashworth <[email protected]> Date: Mon, Nov 26, 2012 at 12:03 PM Subject: [sudan-john-ashworth] South Sudan accuses Sudan of bombing and of massing troops To: Group <[email protected]>
1. S.Sudan accuses Sudan of bombing and of massing troops Fri Nov 23, 2012 10:26am EST * The two countries agreed to end hostilities in September * But tensions have again flared this week * S. Sudan says deal to restart oil flows at risk By Hereward Holland JUBA, Nov 23 (Reuters) - South Sudan on Friday accused Sudan of killing seven people in air strikes on a disputed area and said its northern neighbour was jeopardising a plan to restart cross-border oil flows by massing troops along their joint border. Sudan has already denied the accusations of bombing - which South Sudan said lasted for three days - and a Sudanese military spokesman was not immediately available on Friday to respond to the new troop movement allegation. The African neighbours agreed to end hostilities in September and to resume oil exports from the South via the north after coming close to war in April, the worst outbreak of violence since South Sudan's secession last year. But tensions flared up again this week after the two countries accused one another of failing to move their forces back from the unmarked joint border, something both had said must happen before oil exports could resume. Philip Aguer, a spokesman for South Sudan's army, said Sudanese Antonov warplanes had dropped 27 bombs on Kiir Adem, an area lying inside a 14 mile-wide (22.5 km) strip of land claimed by both countries since Tuesday. "As a result of this aggression seven people died ... these are all civilians," Aguer said, saying that eight people had been wounded. "They are militarising the border instead of demilitarising it." Khartoum denied the bombing accusations on Wednesday, saying its forces had instead attacked a camp of rebels from the Darfur region "deep inside its territory". But the rebels denied they had been bombed. "Every time Khartoum bombs civilians they announce they are bombing rebel groups. That is not correct. They didn't bomb us," Abu Al-Gassim Immam, a spokesman for the rebel Sudan Revolutionary Front said by telephone. The front is an alliance of rebels from Darfur and the Sudanese states of South Kordofan and Blue Nile on the other side of the joint border that is battling to topple Sudan's President Omar Hassan al-Bashir. Sudan and South Sudan accuse one another of supporting rebels on each other's territory, something both deny. Analysts regard such allegations as credible however. South Sudan seceded in July last year after overwhelmingly voting for independence in a referendum promised in a 2005 peace deal that ended a civil war. In April, the two nations clashed on another part of their poorly-defined border, the Heglig oilfield, but pulled back from the brink of war after international pressure. In September, the rival Sudans agreed to recognise administrative borders used by former colonial power Britain at independence in 1956 and to pull their armies back 10 km (6 miles). However, the exact position of this line is disputed. Mile 14 runs parallel to the south bank of the River Kiir, known as Bahr al Arab in the north. The waterway formed a natural boundary between the southern Dinka Malual tribe and the northern Rizeigat tribe. Britain moved the border southwards to allow the Rizeigat grazing rights south of the river in the early 20th century. The United Nations mission in South Sudan says Kiir Adem lies north of the 1956 border and south of the Kiir river. (Reporting by Hereward Holland; Editing by Ulf Laessing and Andrew Osborn) END1 2. South Sudan: Sudan Aerial Bombardment Kills 7 By TOM ODULA Associated Press NAIROBI, Kenya November 23, 2012 (AP) Sudan carried out aerial bombardments on the northern part of South Sudan in the last three days, killing seven people and wounding others, a South Sudanese official said Friday, accusing their northern neighbor of breaking an agreement between the two countries to end hostilities. Sudanese Antonov planes dropped more than 27 bombs in a disputed region near the village of Kiir Adem in northern Bahr el Ghazal State, said Col. Philip Aguer the spokesman for South Sudan's military. The attack is in violation of a security agreement signed between the two countries 54 days ago to end hostilities, he said. South Sudan is also accusing Sudan of frustrating its efforts to resume oil production. "They have been doing this for a number of years in defiance of the international community... you cannot be wanting peace and bomb innocent civilians," Aguer said. He said the South Sudan military has taken up defensive positions and will act in accordance with the country's constitution to defend its citizens if they see movement of ground troops from Sudan's side. Sudanese military spokesman, Col. Sawarmy Khalid Saad, said that government forces did not hit areas in South Sudan, but were battling rebels nearby the Rigaibat region in the East Darfur state. "We were surprised by the accusations leveled (against us) by South Sudan that we have attacked a position of their forces inside Bahr al-Ghazal," he said Thursday in a statement aired on state radio and TV. He said the accusations amounted to "an open admission" by the government of South Sudan that it supports militarily and logistically rebels inside Sudan, where he said Sudanese military forces are carrying out operations. "The presence of the South Sudanese army in Rigaibat region is a flagrant military intervention in our territories and we have full right to deal with it as an aggressive force and this was what has happened," the spokesman said. South Sudan broke away from Sudan last year after decades of conflict between the north and south. The South seceded after an independence vote that was the culmination of a 2005 peace treaty that ended decades of war that killed more than 2 million people. The two countries have unresolved issues on border demarcation and distribution of oil. South Sudan suspended oil production in January after accusing Sudan of stealing its crude. Sudan said it was taking the oil in lieu of unpaid transport fees. Border clashes escalated in April when South Sudan troops took over an oil town in a region Sudan claims as its own. South Sudan's president said the delay in resuming oil production is being caused by fresh demands by Sudan which owns the pipeline through which crude is to be transported. Kiir said Sudan is demanding that South Sudan denounces support for rebels in its Blue Nile and South Kordofan in Sudanese territory. Kiir said Sudan is looking for an excuse to block oil production. South Sudan has denied supporting the rebels. Kiir's comments came two days after the U.S. raised concerns over the implementation of Sept. 27 agreements signed by the presidents of Sudan and South Sudan, on the sharing of oil wealth and the demilitarization of a zone between their borders. Victoria Nuland, the U.S. Department of State spokeswoman, said in a statement Monday that the creation of the safe demilitarized border zone between the two countries is vital to ensure that both the countries honor their commitments to cease-fire. Nuland said no progress was made during a Nov. 6-7 meeting between representatives of the South Sudan and Sudan over the implementation of the agreements and called on the countries to recommit themselves. "We are also disappointed by the delays in the resumption of oil production. This denies much needed revenue to both economies and we urge both parties to resume production while they work to resolve other bilateral issues," she said. South Sudan's independence reduced Sudan's revenues by nearly three-quarters. Oil accounted for nearly 98 percent of South Sudan's revenue, and its economy has suffered during the shutdown. South Sudan says it will still pursue plans to build an alternative pipeline so it doesn't have to export oil through Sudan. Juba has signed memoranda of understanding with Djibouti and Ethiopia as well as Kenya as potential partners in a new pipeline. Some analysts predict that South Sudan's oil reserves will decline in the next few years, making the pipeline project impractical. But South Sudan says the country expects its oil production to increase over the next five years, making the construction of a new pipeline a priority. Associated Press writer Mohamed Osman contributed to this report from Khartoum, Sudan http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/south-sudan-sudan-aerial-bombardment-kills-17794283#.ULMqs3A-sVY END2 3. Kiir Adem Aerial Bombardments By Sudanese Army Claim More Lives For three consecutive days, Sudanese warplanes have continued with aerial bombardment at Kiir Adem in Northern Bahr El Ghazal State as the number of casualties increase daily. 23 November 2012 By Agoth Abraham AWEIL, 23 November 2012 [Gurtong] - According to the Water and Rural Development Minister Bona Makuach Mawien, Seven people have so far been killed with eight others are receiving treatment at Aweil Civil Hospital. “This is a clear violation of human rights, violation of recent agreements signed on September 27, 2012 between two Sudans and clear proof beyond a reasonable doubt to the international community for these continuous aggressions being imposed on us by SAF in our territory,” said Mawien. He said the state government of Northern Bahr el Ghazal condemns the merciless attacks on civilians with strongest terms possible and appealed to the international community to intervene on the matter. Garang Thomas Dhel, Hospital Director said yesterday night they received four cases that were said to be injured by a bombardment in Gok-machar. One old man is seriously injured in his face with multiple injuries. and the other man is injured on the face with a superficial wound. He said that a seven years old child was also injured in her left upper limb with multiple injuries on her back and the hospital is expecting more cases to come as the bombardment continue. Dhel said that they will transfer some patients to Gogrial (Warrap State) for operations. Three aerial bombardments have continuously occurred on 20-22 November 2012. Abuk Deng, a mother of the injured child said plane came around 1 pm, yesterday while they were at the market and dropped three bombs which injured many people. Kiir-adem lies north-west of Aweil town and approximately 60 miles away from the state capital. Sudan's army on Wednesday confirmed it attacked an area near the South Sudanese border where Darfur rebels had set up a compound, but South Sudan said bombs landed on its territory, killing five people. The incident adds to growing concern over delays in implementing security and oil deals which the leaders of Sudan and South Sudan hailed in September as ending conflict, after they fought along their undemarcated border in March and April. Sudan and South Sudan dispute the area, which Sudan considers to be part of East Darfur state. The Samaha region is one of five areas disputed by Khartoum and the South's government in Juba. They have not been able to resolve the disagreement despite African Union (AU) mediation which led to the September deals that included a demilitarised border buffer zone designed to cut support for insurgencies in Sudan. http://www.gurtong.net/ECM/Editorial/tabid/124/ctl/ArticleView/mid/519/articleId/8522/Kiir-Adem-Aerial-Bombardments-By-Sudanese-Army-Claim-More-Lives.aspx END3 4. Juba condemns Sudan’s air attacks as SPLA say its troops are on "high alert" November 23, 2012 (JUBA) - The South Sudanese cabinet on Friday passed a resolution condemning the "continuous unprovoked attacks" by the Sudanese army in Northern Bahr el Ghazal State, while the army said its forces are on high alert. "The council of ministers in its sitting of today chaired by President Salva Kiir Mayardit received reports of repeated attacks on the state of Northern Bahr el Ghazal in which some civilians have been killed. They have been carried out by the Sudanese armed forces for the last four days, in areas which are inside the territory of South Sudan," said Barnaba Marial Benjamin, South Sudan’s Minister of Information on Friday. Marial further said the council unanimously passed a resolution condemning the attack and called on the international community to hold Sudan responsible for the loss of lives and properties in the area. "They came again today but we have not yet received details but it is likely there must be reports," Marial added. The Sudanese army denied attacking the South Sudanese territory of Northern Bahr el-Ghazal stressing that its attacks are limited to the neighbouring East Darfur State where it had spoke about newly established rebel camps, 10 kilometers north of the disputed area ’Mile 14’ area. Al-Sawarmi Khaled, the Sudanese army spokesperson, also accused Juba of continuing to back the rebels groups which constitute the Sudanese Revolutionary Front (SRF), violating a security deal were the two sides committed to stop such support. The Sudanese army has remained silent on its activities on the borders with the South Sudan. SPLA spokesperson, Philip Aguer, on Thursday accused Khartoum of massing troops along the border near Raja in Raja County in Western Bahr el Ghazal adding that their intention is to carry out ground attacks inside South Sudanese territory. Major General Santino Deng Wol, commander of the SPLA’s Division III told Sudan Tribune on Friday that the SPLA forces are on a high state of alert, closely monitoring the movement of Sudanese troops. He said that planes were in the area but had not carried out air attacks. "They were hovering about. We have also been reliably informed of their activities. We are fully aware but as an army we just cannot act without receiving orders. We are waiting for directives and instructions from the general command," Wol further told Sudan Tribune from Wunyiik, an army base in the area. General Wol said he returned from a field visit to SPLA advanced positions in areas around Abyei and Twic county to find that some parts of Aweil North County have been completely deserted by civilians due to aerial bombardments carried out by the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF). He added that is planning to visit the affected areas "soon so that I see the damage caused by these bombardments myself and to talk with the commissioner to encourage civilians to dig trenches in their houses instead of allowing themselves to be killed by flying shrapnel and bombs out of fears. At least 7 people, most of whom civilians, predominantly women and children have died in air attacks allegedly carried out by Sudanese armed forces since Tuesday, according to local officials. Several others have sustained injuries and unkn own number of civilians have been displaced. Although Sudan has denied any involvement in the attack, local officials and the South Sudan Army (SPLA) say there is clear evidence that (SAF) have bombed the area. Madut Dut Yel, Northern Bahr el Ghazal State’s acting governor, commended the army for showing restraint, saying that Sudan’s attempts to “drag the new nation back to war" are not in the interest of the citizens of the two countries. "The need for peace to prevail between the two countries could clearly be seen from how Sudanese celebrated the signing of the cooperation agreement when president Bashir returned to Khartoum. They started crossing with goods before implementation process of the agreement has actually been officially started," Yel told Sudan Tribune on Friday. He commended local youth for their reaction to the bombing, many have helped the elderly, pregnant women and the children leave the area, he said. The Acting Governor said they will not respond to Khartoum’s military provocations aiming at returning the two countries to war. We are committed "to the objective of having two viable states although someone [the Khartoum government] is trying to derails these efforts. We will remain committed to respecting policy of our national government and the leadership of the SPLM." "If we hit back, then we shall have helped Sudan to accomplish its purposes and goals of wanting the two countries to return to war because this is the tactic which officials in [Sudan’s ruling] National Congress Party employed to remain in power," he further said. Mel Wal Achien, who represents the area as an Member of Parliament in the National Assembly in Juba, said the Sudanese army want to empty the area from the South Sudanese population before capturing. The Sudan Armed Forces have been bombed villages deep inside South Sudan, "which are not located anywhere near military positions", Achien told Sudan Tribune on Friday. The bombing was a tactic, Achien said, to drive the civil population from the area in order to occupy it. "These are the tactics which Sudan employs and we know them, I am a soldier myself", said the MP who fought in the SPLA during the two-decade civil war that resulted in a 2005 and South Sudan’s independence six years later. He called on the population to not lose trust and confidence in the capability of the SPLA to protect them and their properties from external aggression, explaining that the army will not allow a ground attack. Deng Thiep Akok, former commissioner of Aweil County, said he had not received news suggesting their were any fresh bomb attacks on Friday. Akok also assured civilians in the area that the country’s has not relinquished its duties to protect the new country’s territory and resources. South Sudan’s army and politicians are "giving diplomatic efforts and peace a chance, but are also prepared for the possibility if the peace cannot hold. They know when to act accordingly," he said. Colonel Phillip Aguer, spokesperson of South Sudan army (SPLA), also said his office did not receive reports of new aerial bombardments on Friday but that the army was closely monitoring activities of the Sudan Armed Forces along the border and was on maximum alert. (ST) http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article44623 END4 5. S. Sudan to file complaint to UNSC over Khartoum aggression November 25, 2012 (JUBA) – South Sudan is due to launch a formal complaint to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) over Sudan’s alleged violation of its territorial integrity, Information Minister, Barnaba Benjamin Marial said. The move, according to Marial, comes in the wake of this week’s aerial bombings allegedly carried out by Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) in parts of South Sudan’s Northern Bahr el Ghazal state, killing at least eight people and injuring an equal number. “This wanton attack in the territory of the Republic of South Sudan is unacceptable. We have recorded the details of these air bombardments and asked our representatives to submit formal complaints to the UN Security Council and to African Union (AU) and to some of the neighboring members of the Security Council,” he said. The attack, Marial added, is a complete violation of the cooperation agreement the two country’s leaders signed in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on 27 September. On Friday, South Sudan council of ministers, during its regular sitting chaired by President Salva Kiir, urged the international community to hold Sudan responsible for what it described as “continuous unprovoked attack.” “The council of ministers in its sitting chaired by President Salva Kiir Mayardit today [Friday] received and listened to reports of repeated aerial bombardments, in which some civilians have been killed in the state of Northern Bahr el Ghazal. On behalf of the government of South Sudan, the council passed a resolution condemning these malicious and wanton bombardments by the Sudan government in the area of Northern Bahr el Ghazal, especially in Kiir Adem where lots of civilians have been killed”, said Marial. The Sudanese army denied attacking the South Sudanese territory of Northern Bahr el-Ghazal stressing that its attacks are limited to the neighboring East Darfur state where it had spoke about newly established rebel camps, 10 kilometers north to the disputed area of mile 14. Al-Sawarmi Khaled, Sudanese army spokesperson, also accused Juba of continuing to back the rebel group’s members of the Sudanese Revolutionary Front (SRF) violating a security deal were the two sides committed to stop such support. Since, the Sudanese army remains silent on its activities on the borders with the South Sudan. MASSIVE PROTESTS On Saturday, thousands of the population in Northern Bahr el Ghazal state demonstrated in protest against the aerial bombardments; a day after the council of ministers’ resolution. The protestors, eyewitnesses told Sudan Tribune, largely advocated for stronger actions, including the national parliament’s approval of the army to react to such aggression, instead of using diplomatic means. “We need to play our part at these trying moments. We know the actions of Sudan are of course unacceptable but we must study the result of whatever action we need to take in respond to these aggressions,” Deng Thiep Akok, an ex-commissioner of Aweil North County said on Saturday. However, Phillip Aguer, the spokesperson of South Sudan army (SPLA) on Wednesday told Sudan Tribune that any form of retaliation from the army against external aggression, would require approval from the country’s leadership. (ST) http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article44628 END5 6. South Sudan complains to Security Council Friday, 23 November 2012 09:09 Muna Tesfai Radio Miraya South Sudan has officially complained to the United Nations Security Council and the African Union, accusing the Khartoum government of conducting aerial attacks in the Kiir Adiem area, in Northern Bahr el Ghazel State. Government Spokesperson, Barnaba Marial Benjamin, told reporters in Juba, that the Council of Ministers condemned what it considers the wanton or malicious attack by the Sudanese air force, which resulted into the death of at least six civilians. Speaking after the Council's meeting in Juba, Marial, passed condolences to the families of the victims and said the government upholds its responsibility to protect its citizens. Marial, said the attack violates the cooperation agreements signed between the two countries, but maintained that Juba remains committed to the implementation of the agreements. The Khartoum government issued a statement denying involvement in the Tuesday morning attack... http://mirayafm.net/index.php/south-sudan-news/10268-south-sudan-complains-to-unsc-a-au-of-sudans-aerial-attacks END6 7. South Sudan: 900 displaced by Sudan air attacks November 26, 2012 (JUBA) - Bombing of South Sudan’s Northern Bahr El Ghazal State, allegedly carried out by Sudanese warplanes over three days last week, has displaced more than 900 people in Aweil North County, officials said on Sunday. Khartoum has denied bombing South Sudanese territory but admits it has bombed Sudanese rebel positions just 10 kilomters north of the disputed Mile 14 area. Khartoum accuses Juba of continuing to back the rebels , although this is denied by Juba. A senior official in the Northern Bahr el Ghazal State government said Sunday that the bombing of the area from Tuesday until Thursday last week is linked to the ’Mile 14 ’ area being included in a proposed demilitarised buffer zone along the disputed international border, which was agreed in September under African Union mediation. The Commissioner of Aweil North County, Kuol Athuai Hal, said thousands of terrified civilians have deserted their villages and started fleeing towards the state capital, Aweil, following bombings between 20 and 22 November. Seven people have been killed, according to the Commissioner. Hal told Sudan Tribune on Sunday that 900 displaced people had arrived in the Gokmachar and are "in need of a lot of things”, adding that South Sudan’s army (SPLA) are deployed in all the villages around Kiir Adem to ensure the protection of the population. The SPLA accused the Sudanese army on Friday of amassing troops on the border and moving towards their positions in some areas. South Sudan’s, Minister of Information, Benjamin Marial, described the bombings as a “wanton and malicious” on Sunday. “Civilians are not like soldiers. They do not know techniques to avoid being hit by the bombs. They just run whenever they hear sound of the warplanes”, Marial said. There have been no reports of bombings since Thursday but local officials say SAF planes circled the area on Friday in an attempt to further intimidate the population. Marial, said that the South Sudanese government were commitment to provide security and protection to the citizens in the area. Some of the 900 people displaced from Kiir Adem in Aweil North County, Northern Bahr El Ghazal State, South Sudan, by alleged SAF bombings between 20-22 November. 25 November 2012 (Source: Office of the Commissioner of Aweil North County) “The people of Aweil are part of [the] Republic of South Sudan and the government of this country has not relinquished its responsibility to providing security and protecting citizens and their properties. The SPLA is on alert and monitoring activities of the Sudanese armed forces closely”, Marial told Sudan Tribune on Sunday. Although both sides agreed to withdraw 10km either side of a notional, non-binding line proposed by the AU, the security elements of the deal have not been implemented and it has faced stern criticism in South Sudan where many see Mile 14’s inclusion as a recognition that the area in disputed. There are many areas claimed by both sides along the 1,800km border, which came into being in July last year when South Sudan seceded as part of a 2005 peace deal. South Sudan said that Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) planes started bombing the area of Kiir Adem on Tuesday killing seven people. According to the Secretary General of the Northern Bahr el Ghazal State government, Garang Kuot Kuot, the bombing campaign is “a tactic” to instigate the “forceful displacement” of the civilian population in order to pave way for SAF to occupy the area. “After three days of consecutive, indiscriminate aerial bombardment, there was, and still is, wider panic among civil population in the area. Causing wide spread fear among civil population is the ultimate aim of Khartoum Government. The most likely calculation among Khartoum planners and strategists is that civil population will eventually be forced to leave their homes, paving way for Khartoum to entrench its control over the area and eventually settles its Messeria and Rezeigat nomads there.” Kuot said that Khartoum hoped that by bombing Kiir Adem the Cooperation Agreement, signed in September, would unravel. The Northern Bahr el Ghazal official, repeated South Sudan’s claim that Khartoum has introduced "impossible" additional demands, including asking the SPLA to disarm their former comrades in South Kordofan and Blue Nile since last year. Sudan’s defence minister on the other hand, has blamed Juba for the failure implement the deal. Khartoum is not satisfied that the SPLA has completely sever its ties with the SPLA-North in the Two Areas and has refused to allow oil exports through its territory to resume until security issues are resolved.. Some of the 900 people displaced from Kiir Adem in Aweil North County, Northern Bahr El Ghazal State, South Sudan, by alleged SAF bombings between 20-22 November. 25 November 2012 (Source: Office of the Commissioner of Aweil North County) “Khartoum is already giving impossible conditions to be met by the Government of South Sudan before oil production could begin. At the moment, the dateline for resumption of oil production has long passed and it looks like we may not see the resumption of oil production any time soon”, Kuot said. Kuot said described last weeks bombing campaign, as “usual act of aggression” by the Khartoum government. In April the two sides nearly returned to all-out conflict over another disputed area - Heglig/Panthou. South Sudan’s army occupied the key oil area for ten-days during the fighting,which Juba says was triggered by air and ground attacks by SAF. On that occasion SAF’s bombing went as far into South Sudanese territory as Bentui, the capital of Unity State. On the that occasion, the United Nations witnessed and reported the attack. (ST) http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article44636 END7 8. The SPLM-N factor in Sudan-South Sudan border hostilities By Machien Luoi November 25, 2012 — The September 27, 2012 - Addis Ababa Cooperation Agreement signed by Sudan and South Sudan is getting undermined by Sudan Peoples’ Liberation Movement-North Sudan (SPLM-N) activities and presence along the common border of the two countries. The movement claims control over 40% percent of the agreement’s Safe Border Demilitarize Zone (SBDZ) and vows the agreement will not work without its involvement or consent. Its strength to sabotage the whole agreement and undermine the security arrangement was either under-estimated or ignored by the two neighboring states in Addis Ababa deliberations. SPLM-N’s influence along the border is significant to be overlooked. Instead, Sudan need to negotiate with SPLM-N or the two countries agrees to incorporate the SPLM-N in the Cooperation Agreement implementation process, at least to secure its consent or else no arrangement will work with current state of affairs at the border in which the SPLM-N is an active actor. After South Sudan officially seceded on July 09, 2011, a new South of the Sudan emerged at war with Khartoum led by SPLM-N. The movement aims at realization of the “New Sudan,” an idea championed by SPLM/A prior to South Sudan secession. Yasir Arman, the Secretary General of SPLM-N believes, “crisis emanating from the lack of an inclusive national project of nation-building and a correct national formation process based on the objective realities of Sudan and on the historical and contemporary diversities; building a society for all regardless of ethnic, religious and gender background; and based on democracy, social justice and a balanced relation between the centre and the peripheries” is what cause his movement to fight Khartoum. SPLM-N fighters and loyalists are pressing the Sudan government to “Change or it will be changed.” During the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) negotiations in Kenya, views and aspirations of the people who reverberate with SPLM-N vision were represented by SPLM. CPA promised Popular Consultations for the Nuba Mountains and Blue Nile State. The consultations were to help the respective communities confer with one another about their future in Sudan after South Sudan left. SPLM-N task itself with responsibility to ensure interests of the Nuba Mountains and Blue Nile citizens maintained and their dreams for peace and development recognized. However, Khartoum government admonishes existence of SPLM-N wish it disappear from the two border regions, culminating to exclusion of SPLM-N in the Addis Ababa cooperation agreement discussions in which security; trade, four-freedoms, and oil transport resumption were agreed amongst other items. In paper the agreement worked. Practically, it will not without SPLM-N contribution or consent since they claim authority and are working in areas bordering South Sudan. The movement is fighting to liberate the same people security arrangement were to protect, and who trade and four freedoms are expected to benefit. Besides, SPLM-N leaders signed Popular Consultation clauses (Abdel Aziz Adam El Hilu signed for Nuba and Malik Agar signed for Blue Nile) as part of the CPA. If South Sudan could not negotiate on behalf of SPLM-N and Sudan does not want to see it involved, who will follow up the Popular Consultations or post CPA issues in which the two areas are part of? Addis Ababa Cooperation Agreement was intended to safe the two countries from economic collapse. In reality it is to the detriment of SPLM-N. The oil resumption agreement could worsen the SPLM-N case particularly if the Sudan acquired more money out of the oil deal to enhance its capacity to fund initiatives to end the SPLM-N insurgency in Nuba Mountains and Blue Nile. Sudan could also see it the other way, particularly with its consistent accusation of South Sudan’s support to SPLM-N. The trade agreement could be viewed in the same context. Sudan traders may cooperate with SPLM-N to secure permission to trade with South Sudan, but Sudan government will view such traders as danger to its security. From the security stand point SPLM-N may also look at Sudan traders as spies for government particularly if they knew areas of Sudan where SPLM-N hides and operates. It is a difficult game to play with SPLM-N dictating the situation. To conclude, if the SPLM-N cannot disembark from the above issues, Sudan and South Sudan will continue to have hostilities between them; Sudan will continue to bomb South Sudanese civilians deep into South Sudan territories like it did on November 20-21 in Kiir Adem area of Northern Bahr El Gazel State, where Sudan’s Antonov killed 6 and injured 20 civilians and Sudan government claimed it operated inside its jurisdiction to smoke SPLM-N and allied rebels out; South Sudan oil flow will continue to be on halt leaving both countries to economically struggle; Trade between the two countries will depend on illegal smuggling of goods; and regrettably the Addis Ababa agreement will not be implemented. Therefore, Sudan need to negotiate with SPLM-N or the two countries agree to incorporate the SPLM-N in the cooperation agreement , at least to secure its consent or else no arrangement will work with current situation at the border in which the SPLM-N is an active actor. The writer is a South Sudanese residing in Bentiu, Unity State and can be reach at [email protected] or [email protected] http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article44639 END8 ______________________ John Ashworth Sudan, South Sudan Advisor [email protected] +254 725 926 297 (Kenya mobile) +211 919 695 362 (South Sudan mobile) +27 82 050 1235 (South Africa mobile) +44 750 304 1790 (UK/international) +88 216 4334 0735 (Thuraya satphone) PO Box 52002 - 00200, Nairobi, Kenya This is a personal e-mail address and the contents do not necessarily reflect the views of any organisation -- -- The content of this message does not necessarily reflect John Ashworth's views. 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