Ex-Prime Minster sees ‘cold war’ between Sudan, South
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July 24, 2011 (KHARTOUM) – Sudan former Prime Minister, Al-Sadiq
al-Mahdi, has sounded the alarm over what he termed as “the harbingers
of a cold war” between his country and the new state of South Sudan.
JPEG - 32.7 kb
NUP leader Al-Sadiq al-Mahdi (FILE)
Once Africa’s largest country by size, Sudan split in two on 9 July
after South Sudan declared independence in line with the outcome of
the region’s referendum on independence. The plebiscite was stipulated
under the 2005’s Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) which ended
nearly half a century of intermittent civil wars between the north and
the south.
As talks to untangle the two countries have been held for months
behind closed doors, Sudan and South recently appeared at loggerheads
over the currency issue. Sudan responded to what it saw as a premature
and uncoordinated launch of the South’s currency by introducing its
own new currency, stoking fears of an economic warfare between the
ex-war foes.
Meanwhile, the south objected to the 32.8 USD price set by Sudan for
the transfer of the south’s oil – the bulk of the country’s estimated
production of 500,000 barrels a day - through its pipelines. Southern
officials said the price was too steep.
In a symposium held in El-Obeid capital of North Kordofan on Sunday,
Al-Mahdi, who is the leader of the mainstream opposition National Umma
Party (NUP), said that the coming cold war had began to manifest
itself on oil disagreements, currency and trade.
The veteran opposition figure further warned that the way in which the
two countries handled post-secession issues was “a terrible mistake”
that sets the stage for a new conflict involving the volatile regions
of South Kordofan, Blue Nile and Darfur.
Sudan has been waging war against forces aligned with South Sudan in
South Kordofan State since 5 June.
According to Al-Mahdi, who had two spells in power as Sudan prime
minister before being unseated in 1989 after the current regime of
president Al-Bashir seized power in a coup, the government was
currently facing a bout of pressures stemming from youth groups on
Facebook as well as voices calling for unifying the armed struggle in
Kordofan, Blue Nile and Darfur to overthrow Khartoum government.
He further warned that Sudan was bound to descend into a new circle of
conflicts and wars unless the government responds to “the national
agendas” which he defined in a new constitution for a broad Sudan and
establishing new relations with the south on the basis of mutual
interests.
Al-Mahdi’s party decided to engage in a dialogue with the ruling
National Congress Party (NCP), alienating main opposition allies who
continue to call for regime change. Al-Mahdi consistently defended his
decision, saying it aims to protect Sudan from disintegration.
However, he recently said that the dialogue has made slow progress
amid disagreements over the issue of the International Criminal Court
(ICC), which seeks al-Bashir’s arrest against the background of Darfur
conflict, and the formation of a national government.
As he spoke on Sunday, he warned that if the government fails to
respond to the people’s demands for change, the domestic political
arena would be open to all options and his party will then choose the
option that safeguards rightness.
(ST)
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