ETHIOPIA: Peace talks between Sudan and South Sudan restart in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa as fresh bombing accusations surface

Record ID: 349561

  • Title: ETHIOPIA: Peace talks between Sudan and South Sudan restart in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa as fresh bombing accusations surface
  • Date: 30th May 2012
  • Summary: ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA (MAY 29, 2012) (REUTERS) SOUTH SUDANESE DELEGATION CHATTING IN THE HOTEL CORRIDOR SOUTH SUDANESE CHIEF NEGOTIATOR PAGAN AMUM SHAKING HANDS WITH AN ETHIOPIAN DIPLOMAT SOUTH SUDAN MINISTER OF CABINET AFFAIRS DENG ALOR CHATTING WITH COLLEAGUES (SOUNDBITE) (English) PAGAN AMUM, SOUTH SUDANESE CHIEF NEGOTIATOR, SAYING: "They are still bombing South Su
  • Embargoed: 14th June 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Ethiopia
  • Country: Ethiopia
  • Topics: Conflict,International Relations,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVAB4R9P8QXQW034VI2ZAJF2F4DU
  • Story Text: South Sudan accused Sudan of launching fresh bombing raids on its territory on Tuesday (May 29), casting a shadow over the resumption of talks to avoid a collapse into all-out war between the African oil-producers.
    The reports, which could not be confirmed independently, came hours before the neighbours sat down to their first direct negotiations since a series of clashes broke out along their disputed border in April.
    As officials gathered for the discussions in Ethiopia, Pagan Amum, the chief negotiator for the newly-independent South Sudan said that Sudanese war planes had continued bombing raids that started over the weekend.
    "They are still bombing South Sudan, they are attacking South Sudan, as we speak, and they are violating the road map in the Security Council resolutions, literally in all aspects. They are burning churches, they are killing South Sudanese, they are arresting them and they are disappearing, so many of them, we do not know their whereabouts. We are getting these reports and the panel is also getting these reports and we call on the Security Council and the AU to take measures against the republic of Sudan," said Amum.
    No one from Sudan's delegation was available for comment, but the government routinely denies bombing the South.
    Amum also accused Sudan of coming to the negotiations table without goodwill.
    "The Government of Sudan, from the public statements, they are coming with preconditions, what to discuss, what not to discuss. Definitely that makes us concerned, about their position. We are here for peace. Are they?," he said.
    South Sudan split away from Sudan in July last year without settling a string of bitter disputes over the position of their shared border, oil transit fees, the ownership of disputed territories and other issues.
    Both countries' oil-dependent economies have also suffered since the split. Adding to the gloom, the International Monetary Fund on Tuesday said Sudan's economy faced "daunting" challenges and needed top bring in emergency measures to stabilise it.
    Diplomats at the African Union-backed negotiations in Addis Ababa were not holding out much hope for a quick, comprehensive settlement.
    Years of tortuous negotiations and huge international pressure have done little to wipe out the deep distrust between the two countries left by decades of conflict.
    Past negotiations between Sudan and fighters in other parts of the country - including Darfur - have often been marked by reports of last minute fighting, as the sides try to maximise territorial gains.
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