Prominent South Sudanese politician and Islamist Abdallah Deng Nhial says he prefers a military solution to the war in Sudan that has killed thousands and displaced millions of civilians.
Speaking at a symposium organized by the Al-Watan newspaper in Juba on Sunday, Nhial, who is the chairman of the South Sudan Popular Congress Party, said: “There are people who say they want to mediate, how can you mediate with forces who rebelled against the Army? It should be solved militarily because those are rebels against the national Army,” referring to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
“The Sudanese Army has long history and it fought in many countries such as Libya and Ethiopia. How can you equate it with people who were just recruited to be part of the Army the other day? If they are part of the Army, then they should be dealt with according to the military law and treated as rebels,” he asserted.
The former minister in Sudan and South Sudan accused RSF of destruction, theft and atrocities.
“You cannot be told to negotiate with someone who has occupied your home and stolen your property. Sudan has been destroyed, including the memory of the people in the achieves and the public libraries,” he said.
“Truth must be told in Sudan so that the problem can be solved. The RSF has to surrender and then be held accountable. The political side of the problem will come later and the Sudanese political forces will then start negotiating and agree how to govern. The main issue now is how to end the rebellion militarily,” he said.
The politician affirmed his commitment to supporting the government of Sudan, saying Sudan is a strategic country for South Sudan as the two share a history, culture and social ties.
“Sudan’s government will be decided by the people of Sudan. We share a long history and economic ties with Sudan. So, it is in the interest of South Sudan to see that Sudan is stable,” he said.
“We are very clear as South Sudan. I believe that South Sudan should be key in trying to find a solution to the Sudan war because we know Sudan better,” he concluded.
Nhial was the candidate of the Popular Congress Party in the 2010 Sudanese presidential election. He was the deputy party chief at the time.