Sudan Insists on Maintaining 1956 Borders

Sudan President Omar Hassan al-Bashir at a ruling National Congress Party rally in Khartoum. There have been mutinies of troops loyal to the central government in the south on the eve of seccession. , a photo by Pan-African News Wire File Photos on Flickr.

Sudan Insists on Adoption of 1956 Borders as Condition to Resumption of Negotiations

Mohamed Omer El-Haj

Khartoum – Sudanese President, Field Marshal Omer Hassan Al Bashir, affirmed on Saturday that his country would only negotiate with South Sudan on security issues on the basis of borders of 1/1/1956 and the known map whereby the borders of the two countries are determined.

“There will be no talks or negotiations on security arrangements unless an agreement is reached on the zero line which separates the two countries and in accordance with the borders of 1/1/1956” said President Al Bashir in his speech before a meeting of the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) Shura (consultation) Council.

“Sudan rejects the new map presented by South Sudan and we will not make further concessions” he said.

The President accused South Sudan of seeking to derail the negotiations sponsored by the AU saying “the map presented by South Sudan contradicts all the previously agreed maps whereby the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) was signed and South Sudan Referendum was conducted.

He criticized the international community for failing to appreciate the efforts exerted by the Sudanese government to achieve peace in South Sudan. “We thought the international community would appreciate the efforts made by Sudan for the sake of peace and stability” he said, adding “but the international community issued resolution No. 2064 after South Sudan had occupied Heglig and regretfully, the resolution equates between the aggressor and the aggrieved”.

The President explained that the Government made tremendous efforts on the issue of peace with South Sudan, Darfur, Eastern Sudan and South Kordofan. “There is no way to achieve an agreement with South Sudan on security arrangements under current negotiations unless they are conducted on the basis of the agreed map” he said.

He said the map which was presented to the AUPSC and UNSC was inconsistent with all the maps agreed upon between Sudan and South Sudan signed by the Ad hoc Border Demarcation Committee which indicated four contentious points. He said the political committee added a fifth point although there is no disagreement over its administrative ownership to Sudan.

With regard to the map presented in November 2011, the President indicated that Sudan sent a written letter to the AUHIP rejecting the map. “But those who have vested interests claimed that the Government of Sudan accepted the map” the President said. “The secretaries are involved in the conspiracy because they did not show the letter to AUHIP Chair Thabo Mbeki” he indicated.

President Al Bashir made it clear that Sudan will not accept any security arrangements unless they are based on the map whereby South Sudan is recognized, a map that is also recognized by UNAMID. “We will not accept any other map” the President declared.

President Al Bashir, however, pointed out that Sudan’s negotiators would be patient until the country’s rights are secured but added that Sudan would not make further concessions after the huge concessions it made for the sake of peace and unity the result of which was only treachery and treason.

The President affirmed Sudan’s commitment to the recent UNSC resolution (2046) despite the fact that the resolution equates between the aggressor and aggrieved, adding that unless the security dossiers are tackled there would be no peace, oil, trade, monitoring or freedoms.

The President hailed the sacrifices made by the Sudanese people, Sudan Armed Forces (SAF), other organized forces and the Mujahideen for the lesson they taught to the SPLA in Heglig. He also affirmed NCP’s commitment to its decisions and recommendations of the Shura Council.

He said Sudan has been experiencing exceptional circumstances which require further efforts and readiness to deal with all eventualities including tackling the economic challenges. He said the meeting of the Shura Council discussed a paper on available options, measures and decisions required to be implemented to address economic challenges.

He said the Government made tremendous efforts to achieve peace across the country, citing Darfur, Eastern Sudan, Blue Nile and South Kordofan.

Meanwhile, Chairman of the Shura Council, Magzoub Abu Ali Magzoub, called on the executive organ of the state to keep its promises made to the Sudanese people to resolve the economic crisis in a manner that would not increase the suffering of the people. He said Sudan is not a poor country, given the huge available resources and stressed the need to stay committed to institutional reforms and cut spending.

The Chairman urged governors of States to strengthen Shura and work for resolving various economic, political, security and social challenges. He stressed the importance of Shura and warned against tyranny which represents the beginning of end of regimes, citing as evidence the Arab Spring.