Khartoum calls Southern Sudanese ambassadors as SPLM says not aware

February 10, 2011 (KHARTOUM) – Sudanese foreign ministry called ambassadors from Southern Sudan appointed after 2005 peace deal without prior arrangements with the SPLM, said officials from the South Sudan ruling party.

The Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) allows the two parties to proportionally share wealth and power during the six years of interim period, giving the SPLM 28% of the national ministerial positions and 20% civil servant positions.

Prior to the announcement of the referendum results which came out in favour of independence of South Sudan last Monday, the Sudanese Foreign Affairs Ministry sent out a circular recalling all South Sudanese ambassadors and diplomats, in different countries of the world to report to the Ministry headquarters effective 1 April 2011, without consulting the leadership of the SPLM.

In 2007 and 2008, the two parties formed a high executive committee with equal representation to look into complaints raised by the SPLM and to approve identification and assignment of southern Sudanese officials into ambassadorial and senior civil servant as well as diplomatic positions. All were to remain their positions until at the end of the interim which would determine the future of the country.

Speaking to Sudan Tribune on Tuesday night from Netherlands, Martin Kur, a diplomat at the Sudanese embassy said all southern Sudanese ambassadors and diplomats serving in the Sudanese embassies abroad received a circular instructing them to report to the headquarters in Khartoum on 1 April.

Sudan’s former foreign minister, now GOSS minister of regional cooperation in Deng Alor denied knowledge of such arrangements, saying “we were not consulted”. He further said he would seek clarification from the minister of foreign affairs.
Grace Datiro, a state minister at the ministry of foreign affairs also said she was not aware of the circular.

Another Sudanese ambassador from the south confirmed receipt of the document, “Yes, we have received the circulation issued by Mr. Mohammad Salah Al-Din Abass on behalf of the Undersecretary dated 6 February, 2011. Abass is a Director General in the ministry of foreign Affairs”, said the official who preferred anonymity.

Other ambassadors and diplomats from different parts of the world and originally from the South of Sudan contacted by Sudan Tribune unanimously confirmed receipt of an official document numbered MFA/1/50 and dated 6.2.2011.

It is claimed that the circular is entitled “recall of all south Sudanese Ambassadors and Diplomats serving in the Sudanese Embassies abroad”, asking them to report to the headquarters of the ministry of foreign affairs in Khartoum, on April 1st April, 2011 and to remain there until June 30, 2011.

Different officials from the NCP officials stated that the participation of the SPLM officials in the national institutions would terminate immediately after the final announcement of the referendum results.

However the Sudanese presidency agreed later that the participation of Southerners in the national government and other organs will continue to the end of the interim period on 9 July 2011.

(ST)

Article source: http://www.sudantribune.com/Khartoum-calls-Southern-Sudanese,37941