Concerns mount about Sudan as leaders cancel summit

THE US and the African Union (AU) yesterday expressed concern about the conflict between Sudan and South Sudan and a meeting between the two countries’ leaders was cancelled following border clashes.



Jean Ping, chairman of the AU Commission, observed "with very deep concern the escalating security situation along the border between Sudan and South Sudan, where there has been an outbreak of fighting between the military forces of Sudan and South Sudan. This includes ground fighting on both sides of the border and aerial bombardment," Mr Ping said yesterday.



US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called the fighting "deeply distressing".



"We think that the weight of responsibility rests with Khartoum, because the use of heavy weaponry, bombing runs by planes and the like are certainly evidence of disproportionate force on the part of the government in Khartoum," she said in Washington.



Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir called off a planned April 3 meeting with his South Sudanese counterpart, Salva Kiir, because of the fighting, foreign ministry spokesman al-Obeid Murawih said yesterday in Khartoum. The leaders were due to meet in South Sudan’s new capital, Juba, to sign agreements on protecting the rights of citizens in both countries and on border demarcation.



"I think it’s possible that there is a split in Khartoum," Jonah Leff, an analyst with the Geneva-based Small Arms Survey, said.



"However, Mr al-Bashir was never comfortable with the idea of arriving on Juba soil, so I doubt he thought twice about cancelling the trip," he said.



South Sudan on Monday accused Sudan’s military of bombing its forces in the disputed area of Jaw along the border between Unity state and the north’s Southern Kordofan state. South Sudan’s army spokesman, Philip Aguer, also reported fighting around the oil-rich area of Heglig. There was no apparent damage to the oil field in Unity state, the state’s information minister, Gideon Gatpan, said.



South Sudan’s government spokesman, Barnaba Marial Benjamin, said Sudan had not yet informed the authorities in Juba of its intention to cancel the summit.



Mr Benjamin told reporters in Juba that "hawks" within Sudan’s government were responsible for inciting attacks to derail the peace process between the two countries.



The countries have been embroiled in disputes over oil, borders and citizenship rights since the south gained independence in July last year.