Sudan: Opposition warns against excessive optimism on signed agreements

Al-Mahdi

The alliance of the opposition parties has warned against the excessive optimism about the recently signed agreements with South Sudan, pointing out that the file is still on the table of the UN Security Council.

The alliance described the signed agreements as an important step toward final resolutions, the alliance warned, however, of the seriousness of the pending issues that are still unresolved, such as the status of Abyei region, border demarcation and dialogue with the SPLM (Northern Sector).

Secretary-General of the Sudanese Communist Party (SCP) Muhammad Mukhtar Al-Khatib pointed out that the outstanding issues should have been resolved before the referendum.

For his part, the prominent member of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) Ali Al Sayed pointed out that the issues are still pending; adding that what has happened is just a blessing over the pumping of South Sudan's oil through the Sudanese territory.

Meanwhile, the head of the National Umma Party (NUP), Al Sadiq al-Mahdi warned of thinking that the problems were resolved since the agreements were signed, noting that there are things still outstanding, such as the disputed border areas, calling for not to leave them to third parties, and suggesting an office of Sudanese elders consists of twelve wise men to be divided equally between Sudan and South, while avoiding the international mediation mechanism as it does not understand the issues of the internal affairs and limits the participation in the political leaderships of the two countries only.

Al-Mahdi pointed out that the war has never and will never be ended by the signing of agreements, “But war exists, in every sense of the word, therefore it’s very important to immediately begin negotiating with the SPLM (Northern Sector) on the issues relating to South Kordofan and Blue Nile States”. Al-Mahdi quoted by today’s media outlets.

It’s worth mentioning that the Peace and Security Council of the African Union will hold a crucial meeting in the 20^th of the current October on the signed agreements between Khartoum and Juba as well as the outstanding issues between the two countries and to decide on the issue of Abyei.