Unfolding diplomatic tensions between Sudan and South Sudan
Sudan threatens 'appropriate measures' against South Sudan after UN comments
A diplomatic rift is deepening between Sudan and South Sudan following accusations by South Sudanese Foreign Minister Ramadan Goc at the United Nations Security Council. Goc condemned the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and their allies for the alleged mass killings of South Sudanese citizens in Al Jazira State, citing graphic videos circulating online that depict beheadings and executions. These videos have triggered widespread condemnation, both domestically and internationally.
Sudan War Monitor will publish a separate investigation about the Wad Madani Massacre, which targeted both Darfuris and South Sudanese, in the coming weeks.
Protests erupted across South Sudan last week, including in the capital Juba, following the release of the graphic videos. These demonstrations resulted in the deaths of at least 16 Sudanese traders and the looting of markets, primarily operated by Sudanese nationals and other foreign businesses. In response, the South Sudanese government took steps to quell the unrest, shutting down popular social media platforms like Facebook and TikTok, which it blamed for inciting violence. The government also issued appeals for calm.
At a UN Security Council session on counterterrorism efforts in Africa, Foreign Minister Goc denounced the killings as “a live act of terrorism.” He urged the United Nations to join the African Union (AU) and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) in condemning the actions of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and to initiate an independent investigation.
“The act of terrorism has been a story of South Sudanese during their struggle days [the 1983-2005 civil war], but last week we have seen a live act of terrorism by the inhuman killing of innocent South Sudanese in Sudan when the Sudanese army and their allied groups took over [Wad] Madani. South Sudanese were brutally killed, and we thank the African Union and the Chairperson of the East African Community, IGAD, for their condemnation of what happened to our people, and we call upon the Security Council to join us in our call for the investigation on the killing of our South Sudanese people in Sudan.”
“Our President also described what happened to our people as an act of 'terror' and he called for investigation. We call also on the UN Security Council to join us in our call. For this reason, it is imperative to adopt a more flexible and supportive approach, one that recognizes the unique challenges African states face and prioritizes capacity building over restrictions,” he told the council.
Sudan's Foreign Ministry swiftly condemned Goc's remarks, denouncing them as a call for foreign intervention in Sudan's internal affairs. The ministry's statement accused the South Sudanese leadership of inciting violence against Sudanese nationals and violating diplomatic protocols by failing to ensure the security of the Sudanese embassy in Juba who were attacked during the protests.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemns the statements made by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of South Sudan in New York, in which he called for the intervention of the United Nations and the African Union in Sudan – an unjustified step. He is well aware that despite the formation of an investigation committee following the recent events in Al-Jazira State, the city of Juba and other areas in South Sudan have witnessed retaliatory campaigns, including killings, physical assaults, and looting, which have claimed the lives of innocent Sudanese citizens. These actions were incited by official South Sudanese leadership, and even the Sudanese embassy in Juba and its members were not spared. This constitutes a grave violation of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and all international laws and norms,” the statement said.
The statement further accused South Sudan of harboring and supporting the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), including the facilitation of recruitment and treatment of wounded RSF fighters in South Sudanese hospitals. Sudan reiterated its position that it would take “appropriate measures” to protect its sovereignty and interests if South Sudan continued what it described as violations of bilateral agreements.
South Sudan has recently moved to capitalize on the unilateral 2013 Abyei referendum by taking formal steps toward its recognition. In late December, the local Abyei parliament endorsed the referendum results, a move subsequently approved by the South Sudanese cabinet. Sudan has strongly opposed this development, asserting that it contravenes the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), which mandates that Abyei's status should be resolved through a mutually agreed referendum. In its statement, Sudan's foreign ministry said actions such as this constitute a breach of international agreements and could provoke further tensions.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs further reminds that it has been monitoring the serious violations committed by South Sudan in Abyei, which constitute a clear breach of the agreement concerning Abyei’s status. These violations have been documented in reports by the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) to the UN Secretary-General. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs affirms that it will take appropriate measures to respond to the numerous violations committed by the Government of South Sudan at international and regional forums,” the statement added.
Sudanese officials during the course of last week have blamed South Sudan for failure to find a solution against its nationals who have been fighting alongside the RSF in the Sudanese conflict. Assistant SAF commander-in-chief and member of the Transitional Sovereign Council Yassir Atta, said during an address in Damazin this week that South Sudanese fighters make up around 65 percent of “the remaining RSF”.
South Sudan perceives Sudan’s persistent claims of its nationals’ involvement in the conflict, especially amid accusations of mass killings of South Sudanese citizens in Sudan, as an implicit acknowledgment of these atrocities. It views the repeated focus on its alleged role in the conflict as an effort to divert attention and justify such actions.
South Sudan gained independence from Sudan in July 2011, following an overwhelming vote in favor of secession in a referendum held six months earlier, bringing an end to decades of conflict. However, tensions between the two nations have persisted, notably with the Heglig Crisis – a brief border war in 2012 in which South Sudan and allied Darfuri JEM fighters captured the oil-rich town of Heglig, penetrating 70 kilometers into the Sudanese territory, following persistent SAF airstrikes on Bentiu, the capital of Unity State which borders Sudan. The brief occupation ended after international pressure forced South Sudan’s withdrawal.
The Sudanese airstrikes were carried out in response to allegations that South Sudan was supporting Sudanese rebel groups, including the SPLM-North and the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM). The conflict ultimately concluded with the signing of nine cooperation agreements, encompassing a framework agreement along with specific accords addressing issues such as oil revenue sharing, border demarcation, citizenship rights, and the distribution of national debts and assets.
South Sudan possesses significant interests in Sudan. Sudan serves as the crucial gateway for South Sudanese oil exports to international markets and plays a critical role in safeguarding the implementation of South Sudan's revitalized peace agreement, a deal brokered in 2018 by Sudan under the auspices of the IGAD. Escalating tensions between the two countries jeopardize these vital interests.
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