SUDAN: African Union Alarmed Over North-South Tensions

Addis Ababa — The African Union (AU) on Wednesday expressed deep concerns over escalating tension along the north-south Sudan border, the world’s newest international boundary.

The fresh concern from the continental bloc comes after an aerial bombardment by the Sudanese army on the Yida refugee camp of South Sudan’s Unity state last Thursday 10 November. Local officials say at least 12 people died in the raid, which is denied by Khartoum.

Since South Sudan seceded from Sudan in July the two country’s have traded accusations of cross-border support to their respective rebel groups and incursions into each others territory.

In a statement, AU Commissioner, Jean Ping said the union had been following the escalation of tensions along the border, urging the two governments to exercise maximum restraint.

“The Chairperson urged both governments to exercise utmost restraint and to refrain from any act that may further aggravate the already tense situation on their common border”, an AU statement said.

The AU chief appealed to Khartoum and Juba abide by the communiqué they signed in September and utilize the Joint Political and Security Mechanism to peacefully settle their differences.

According to the statement, the Chairperson also reiterated AU’s resolve, especially through the continued engagement of the AU High-Level Implementation Panel, whose mandate has recently been renewed by the Peace and Security Council.

The UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon, on Tuesday expressed similar concern over the North-South tensions and condemned Sudan’s latest aerial attacks in South Sudan’s soil.

He also condemned a newly formed resistance movement, the Sudan Revolutionary Front (SRF), a coalition of four northern Sudanese opposition groups.

Ban urged the new alliance against the use of force to bring about regime change in Sudan and stated political dialogue as the only solution to resolve the conflicts in Darfur, South Kordofan and Blue Nile