Sudan: North fails to withdraw troops from South
Jan 22 2008
Postings >> Sudan

Mistrust between northern and southern partners in Sudan's unity government appears to be deepening, amid border skirmishes and broken promises.

North Sudan has missed a third deadline for withdrawing its troops from the south – possibly jeopardising the north-south peace deal of 2005. The Sudan Armed Forces gave 'lack of transport' as their reason for not pulling out before the December 31 cut-off date.

Major General Elias Waya of the former southern rebel group, the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA), told Reuters news agency: 'They have started moving already, but in very small numbers.'

The north retains a presence in three southern states, mostly in oil-rich areas near the disputed north-south border. Khartoum says it has only 3,600 troops in the south: southern leader Salva Kiir has put the number at 17,000. The south accuses the north of trying to retain control of Sudan’s oilfields.

The delay in troop withdrawals has fuelled existing tensions. The SPLA clashed with northern militias in border areas in late-December and again in the new year. The Nation in Nairobi reports that up to 100 people were killed when Baggara Arab militia sparred with a southern army garrison in Abyei. Other skirmishes have been reported in Warguet.

Some sources have claimed that northern army officials are training militia at camps inside the border area. The SPLA told The Nation that it had no proof that this was the case.

Back in October, southerners pulled their ministers out of the national unity government in protest at Khartoum’s failure to keep its side of the 2005 peace deal. The demarcation of the north-south border – and the allocation of nearby oilfields – remains a barrier to progress.

• Pray that northern and southern politicians will work harder to resolve outstanding issues such as border demarcation.
• Pray that the international community will remain committed to helping bring lasting peace to Sudan, despite the many setbacks.