Sudan’s Foreign Minister Ibrahim Ghandour says his country will not serve as a launching pad for any armed opposition activities against neighbouring South Sudan.
Ghandour’s statement refers to South Sudan armed opposition faction led by ousted vice president Riek Machar that declared war against President Salva Kiir following secret meetings held in Khartoum.
As quoted by state-run media SUNA yesterday, Ghandour said that Sudan has been an essential and active element in all initiatives that endeavour to achieve peace in South Sudan
“Sudan is a key member of the tripartite mechanism set up by IGAD which monitors the implementation of the peace agreement in South Sudan, which was developed and supervised by the same organization and signed by the two SPLM factions in the government and the opposition there,” said Ghandour.
The Sudanese official underscored that his country is interested to bring about peace in South Sudan. Ghandour noted that Sudan under the leadership of President Omer al-Bashir was the first country to recognize South Sudan after its independence in July 2011, while pointing to the common interests and shared history between the two Sudans.
The governments of both Sudan and South Sudan last month agreed to stop the support to rebels on either side after accusing each other of backing rebels in a bid to cause instability in the two countries.
File photo: Ibrahim Ghandour