South says Sudan stalls on UN talks deadline
KHARTOUM — A UN deadline for Sudan and South Sudan to resume talks on oil and other critical issues passed without action on Wednesday, as South Sudan accused Khartoum of stalling.
The South’s lead negotiator, Pagan Amum, told AFP his country was ready to resume the African Union-led talks.
Sudan withdrew from negotiations after South Sudanese troops occupied the north’s main oil region of Heglig on April 10, in a conflict that led to widespread fears of all-out war.
Amum said Juba has sent a letter to the AU mediator, former South African president Thabo Mbeki, saying: “We have been ready to resume talks and we are waiting.”
Sudan has not reciprocated, Amum said.
“I believe it is because the government of Sudan hasn’t been keen to return to talks, which is in violation of the UNSC resolution and the AU roadmap” underlying the UN resolution, he said.
The United Nations Security Council resolution of May 2 gave Sudan and South Sudan two weeks — until May 16 — to unconditionally resume the negotiations. The unanimous resolution threatened sanctions if its demands are ignored.
It sought to avert a “serious threat to international peace
Category: South Sudan News
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