White House Condemns Sudan Government

Silva Kir, the leader of south Sudan and President Omar al-Bashir of Sudan. The President said he would recognize the south if it voted for separation from the central government. Factional fighting in the south may jeopardize their independence., a photo by Pan-African News Wire File Photos on Flickr.

White House condemns attacks on South Sudan

Wed, Apr 25, 2012

The White House called on Sudan yesterday to stop its bombing raids of newly independent South Sudan and said the neighbouring countries needed to return to the negotiating table to avoid escalation.

“We strongly condemn Sudan’s military incursion into South Sudan. Sudan must immediately halt the aerial and artillery bombardment in South Sudan by the Sudan armed forces,” White House spokesman Jay Carney told reporters on Air Force One.

“Both governments must agree to an immediate, unconditional cessation of hostilities and recommit to negotiations.”

Weeks of cross-border fighting between the former civil war foes have raised the possibility of full-blown conflict in a region with one of the most significant oil reserves in Africa.

South Sudan became independent last July under a peace deal that broke up what was Africa’s largest country. But Sudan and South Sudan have yet to settle a long list of disputes, including the position of their shared border and how much the landlocked southern state should pay in oil transit fees to Sudan.

– (Reuters)