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Sudan appeals to SA to mediate in political turmoil
Fri, October 23 2009
By Mahlatse Gallens/SABC [Sudan]
The advisor to Sudanese President Omar Al Bashir has appealed to South Africa to mediate in the political stalemate between the country's north and the south political parties. Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe is in Sudan on a three-day official visit to bolster the increasingly fragile Comprehensive Peace Agreement signed by both the north and south, which ended more than two decades of civil war.

Motlanthe arrived in Khartoum as tension heightened between the north and south.

Southern parliamentarians are boycotting parliament - accusing the north of not passing electoral laws to allow for democratic elections. The two are also divided over the census and demarcation. Khartoum has appealed for mediation.

South Africa is trusted and enjoys good relations with both sides. It also has experience - it comes out of conflict, it has succeeded in uniting and promoting reconciliation. "We need to make use of that experience. We need SA to mobilise the African continent and international community. It experienced coming out of conflict,” says presidential advisor, Mustafa Ismail.

Mediation is becoming increasingly urgent as elections are just six months away and will be followed by a referendum that will determine whether the country stays united or is divided.

South Africa is already contributing peace-keeping troops in Darfur and former President Thabo Mbeki is leading an African Union (AU) team to resolve the crisis. Motlanthe will spend two days in Juba to meet with the Government of Southern Sudan.

 

 

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