Sudanese government has denied reports that the government of South Sudan asked Khartoum to shutdown rebel offices in its territories.
This follows Kiir’s adviser, Tut Gatluak, saying Sudan should not support rebels because it is a member of the East African regional bloc, Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and that Khartoum should honor Juba’s request to close the armed opposition offices.
However, Khalid al-Mubarak, a Sudanese media counsellor at the Sudan’s embassy in London said that Khartoum has good relations with both sides, adding that his country is a leading member of IGAD and therefore cannot support any group.
“Leaders of both government and opposition in South Sudan own houses in Khartoum and have sons and daughters at school or university. As a leading member of IGAD reconciliation and mediation, the Sudan has got contacts with both sides; but no forces are allowed to use Sudanese territory,” al-Mubarak said.
Rebels responded to the allegations by saying they have good relations with Khartoum and no such reports as their offices are being closed.
“There is nothing like that, I am not aware of these reports. In fact there is no such development. Our relations with the Sudanese government are excellent,” SPLM-IO’s Secretary General, Tingo Peter Regbigo said.
The SPLM/A-IO officials in Khartoum said they were stunned by reports that their offices will be shut down allegedly by Sudanese authorities, and described the claims as a ‘government propaganda planned in Juba and at South Sudan Embassy in Washington, DC’ by known propagandists who are also government’s employees.
Reports of rebel offices closure and threat of deportation of anyone who supports the armed opposition while living in Ethiopia and Sudan arose after the publication of a report in which South Sudanese First Vice President Taban Deng Gai claimed his government’s plan to isolate Dr. Riek Machar in East Africa is being supported by Addis Ababa and Khartoum.
