S. Sudan denies promising to expel Darfur rebels ArticleComments (3). Email PrintSave --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
January 18, 2012 (JUBA)- South Sudan on Wednesday dismissed reports claiming it pledged to expel the Darfurian rebel group Justice and Equality Movement (JEM), fighting the Khartoum-based government, from its territory. JEM fighter near the border with Chad, Darfur, Sudan, September 7, 2004 (Getty)The release extended to Sudan Tribune on Wednesday by the country’s ministry of foreign affairs and international development says the Government of South Sudan (GoSS) was deeply concerned about news reports attributed to Sudan’s state minister of foreign affairs, claiming his South Sudanese counterpart, Elia Nyamelell Wakson, who led a low level delegation during a recent visit to Khartoum, had promised to expel JEM from its territory. “These are not correct in the sense that the government of South Sudan had in the past in many occasions made clear that to the world media that there is no presence of any Darfur rebel group or any other rebel from the north fighting against Khartoum government on South Sudan’s soil. So this statement attributed to is blatantly false and should be retracted immediately,” the statement reads in part. Sudan last month reported to the UN Security Council that JEM forces had crossed the borders from Darfur into South Sudan. Khartoum urged the UNSC to put pressure on Juba to refrain from supporting the rebels. JEM is a Darfur based rebel group fighting the rule of the National Congress Party from Khartoum.In 2008 JEM attacked Omdurman, which borders Khartoum. JEM’s leader, Khalil Ibrahim, was killed in an air-strike in December 2011. The release clarified that the delegation led by deputy minister was in Khartoum for five days during which the delegation was able to meet and held meetings with government officials in Khartoum at the ministry of foreign affairs and relevant institutions. “Several issues of concerns between the two nations were discussed, but the delegation from the government of South Sudan did not in any way express or implied knowledge or support to Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) let alone the expulsion of these rebels from its territory. As such, the government of South Sudan is appalled by these statements and considers these allegations as baseless and in bad spirit of bilateral talks”, the statement adds. South Sudan has repeatedly denied Khartoum’s accusation that it was supporting Darfur rebels and rebels of South Kordofan and Blue Nile. (ST) -- 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.
