President Omar al-Bashir on Sunday described the South Sudanese government as Sudan’s “enemy”, in a sign of growing tensions over slow implementation of the joint agreements between the two countries.

 Addressing the force of the Sudanese Intelligence on Sunday, President Bashir said that South Sudan is still targeting his country and that it does want to implement the 2012 Joint Cooperation Agreements signed by the two countries.

Separately, the Sudanese leader stressed that any peace agreement signed with the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-North) would not include the integration of its fighters in the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), saying the SPLA-North rebels are still part of South Sudan army.

“Those who are in Blue Nile are still part of the SPLA, and those who are still in South Kordofan are still part of the SPLA which is South Sudan’s army,” he said.

“They were supposed to be given their rights and then hand over their guns so that they come to us with their hands, but they didn’t do so. They want us to negotiate with them, but there will not be any integration of rebels,” he added.

President Bashir also rejected any new initiative for dialogue, saying whoever wants to join the National Dialogue must come and register his or her name, while calling on those taking up arms for political ends to join the peace process.

President Bashir threatened to impose peace and stability across the country in the coming dry season by all means.

File photo: President Omar al-Bashir