Sudan Events – Follow-ups
The Sudanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs described the statement issued (Tuesday) by its South Sudanese counterpart regarding the involvement of South Sudanese mercenaries fighting alongside the terrorist Janjaweed militia as contradictory. It considered the statement as incitement against Sudanese citizens who sought refuge in Juba due to the war.
The ministry pointed out that the statement was issued at a time when the Sudanese government is striving to mend the rift between the Juba government and its opponents, which it found highly surprising.
In the statement issued by Sudan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Wednesday), it was noted, “We observed that South Sudan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has for the first time acknowledged the participation of these mercenaries, after previously denying any knowledge of this through its official spokesperson. While it argued that the percentage of these mercenaries does not exceed 65%, and that the government has no control over them.”
The statement continued, “The ministry did not condemn the crimes of these mercenaries, nor did it mention any efforts made to prevent their arrival in Sudan or even warn its citizens not to succumb to the temptations of the militia to fight as mercenaries in Sudan, which is prohibited by all laws and the principles of good neighborly relations.” It added, “Given the reports of UN Security Council experts, specialized organizations, and international investigative media, which documented the support reaching the militia via South Sudan, there is no point in attempting to downplay the impact of South Sudanese mercenaries’ participation with the Janjaweed militia.”
The Sudanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs accused South Sudan’s statement of exaggerating when it referred to horrific massacres suffered by South Sudanese citizens in Wad Madani, considering it as an incitement to continue violence against Sudanese citizens in South Sudan after more than 16 innocent lives were lost across South Sudan and their properties looted and burned because of such false claims. It pointed out that “the statement remained silent on these brutal crimes committed against innocent refugees in South Sudan due to the war waged against them by the militia, with the help of South Sudanese mercenaries. Moreover, it ignored that over two million South Sudanese citizens have remained in Sudan even after the secession more than 14 years ago, and they still receive the best treatment. The isolated incidents against individuals after the liberation of Wad Madani are under investigation by high-level judicial authorities, while no such thing has occurred regarding crimes against Sudanese citizens in South Sudan.”
The Sudanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed its regret that such a contradictory statement would be issued at a time when Sudan is exerting efforts to help achieve peace in South Sudan, despite its own circumstances, as evidenced by the peace agreement signed in Port Sudan between the South Sudanese government and the opposition SPLM-IO wing, led by Kit Gwang, under the auspices of the Director-General of the National Intelligence and Security Service.
The statement concluded that Sudan’s government remains firm in its belief that “the security and peace of both brotherly countries are inseparable, and both leaderships are working to support and enhance them.”
