Khartoum Looks to Ethiopia for Heglig Mediation
Addis Ababa — The Sudanese president Omer Hassan al-Bashir has sought Ethiopia‘s support to resolve escalating tensions with South Sudan over disputed Heglig, an oil-rich town recently taken control of by South Sudan army (SPLA).
Mustafa Osman Ismail, an adviser to the Sudanese president, on Wednesday met Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi in Addis Ababa and delivered a message from Bashir, according to state media.
Ismail also met with AU commission chairman Jean Ping, chairman of African Union High Level Implementation Panel (AUHIP) Thabo Mbeki, and Ramadan Alamamra the Commissioner of AU Peace and Security Council (AUPSC).
Tensions between Juba and Khartoum has also increased over recent Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) bombing raids which have been condemned by the UN.
The AU said last week that South Sudan‘s seizure of Heglig was illegal and urged the south to immediately withdraw forces. It further called on Khartoum to stop aerial bombardment inside South Sudan.
Talks between the warring factions held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, mediated by AUHIP to resolve issues such as border demarcation and oil revenues have been on hiatus since Juba accused Khartoum of military aggression in March.
After Ismail briefed the Zenawi on the current situation between Juba and Khartoum, the Ethiopian Premier affirmed
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Category: Khartoum
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