Although
the Security Council resolution has given Sudan and South Sudan just 48 hours
to halt hostilities or face sanctions, yet it seems that the situation is
adamant to change as news reports are still being circulated on ongoing clashes
at the border areas despite the fact that the 48-hour deadline will expire this
evening.
While
welcoming the United Nations resolution which on Wednesday gave Sudan and the
South 48 hours to stop fighting, including air raids, the foreign ministry
warned it retains the right to defend itself against “aggression” from the
South.
The
spokesman of the foreign ministry yesterday issued a statement in which he
pointed out that the minister of foreign affairs Ali Karti announced that the
government of Sudan welcomes of the UN Security Council resolution which was
issued on Wednesday.
“The
minister further announces that the government of Sudan
is fully committed to the provisions of the resolution about stopping hostilities
with South Sudan according to the time limits
issued," he added.
Under
the UN resolution, Sudan and
South Sudan have until Friday evening to end
hostilities or face possible sanctions.
Khartoum's pledge came hours after South Sudan's
army alleged Sudanese warplanes and long-range artillery were bombarding
Southern border regions on Thursday.
In
its statement, Sudan's
foreign ministry repeated charges that South Sudanese troops on Monday occupied
a disputed area on the border of Sudan's
Darfur region and South Sudan's Western Bahr
el-Ghazal state.
This
came a day after the South took over another disputed point on the Darfur
border, the ministry said, citing further examples of “continuous aggression
and attacks on the part of South Sudan's army on
Sudanese soil until today”.
According
to the resolution, the two countries should “immediately cease all hostilities”
and withdraw troops to their own territory. The two sides further have to
submit a written commitment to halt fighting within 48 hours to the African
Union and the Security Council.
Among
other measures, the resolution orders them to stop supporting rebel groups
against each other and says they must restart African Union-mediated peace
talks within two weeks.
The
two sides implemented the easy part of the resolution by announcing their
commitment to abide by the UN's resolution and halt fighting theatrically, but
not on the ground.
It
is to be mentioned that, among other measures, the resolution orders the two
countries to stop supporting rebel groups against each other and says they must
restart African Union-mediated peace talks within two weeks.
The
resolution threatens “additional measures” under Article 41 of the UN Charter -
which allows for non-military sanctions - if either side fails.
The
governments of the two states of Sudan should be aware that such
sanctions would affect the two sides which will be an additional burden on their
economies that are already being bogged down by the continuing conflicts.
The
governments of the two countries as were described by Susan Rice, US ambassador
to the UN, have a long record of "promises made and promises
broken." sparking alarm and condemnation from the international community.
We
call on both governments to abide by the UN's resolution and halt fighting
immediately to avoid its consequences.
We
hope that the two sides return to their senses and abide by the UN's resolution
and halt fighting immediately to avoid its consequences to spare the two countries these possible sanctions.
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