UN Special Envoy for Sudan and South Sudan Nicholas Haysom was misrepresented when he was reported recently as having said that relations between the two countries are at their worst point.
Radio Tamazuj reported on 12 September that the envoy had described Juba-Khartoum relations as having reached their “lowest ebb”. He was apparently referring to a period several years ago, not to the present time.
The report replicated an error in an article published by the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), which stated, “Haysom said he took office at a time when relations between Khartoum and Juba were at their lowest ebb.” Haysom took office in March 2016.
Haysom’s statements were made to Radio Miraya, a radio station operated by UNMISS. Subsequent review of an audio recording of this interview suggests that the UN envoy was actually referring to a period in 2011 when the mandate of his predecessor Haile Menkerios was created, shortly after the Sudanese army’s occupation of Abyei and prior to the oil shutdown the following year.
The period of 2011-2012 was one of very high tensions between the two countries leading to fighting between their armies in the Heglig oil field and elsewhere along their common border, before a deal was struck in September 2012 that led to eventual reopening of the oil pipeline.
Haysom explained to Radio Miraya, “My mandate was created at a time in which the relations between South Sudan and Khartoum had plummeted to a very dangerous position.”
“Since then I and my predecessor, SRSG Hailemenkerios have been engaged with both governments to promote not only the cooperation between North and South – that is, a positive collaboration – and also, equally, to discourage negative actions which can disadvantage other countries.”
Haysom’s office contacted Radio Tamazuj last week to say that his remarks had been misrepresented, but did not yet respond to a follow-up request for elaboration.
Our original article under the headline “Juba-Khartoum relations at ‘lowest ebb’ according to UN envoy” has been unpublished from our website. We regret this error to our readers.
Haysom is based in Addis Ababa. His mandate relates to both Sudan and South Sudan and in particular the relations between the two countries. But he has also stressed that the internal situation in either country could impact on these relations.
“One has to recognize that the internal situations in both Sudan and South Sudan can impact on the capacity for both countries to interact,” Haysom told Radio Miraya.
“We know already that there are mutual accusations about each interfering in the internal affairs of the other, principally by supporting insurgent groups.”