Title is quote of Sudan’s President Bashir - The two new neighbors signed a non-aggression pact today (February 11), but actually most contentious issues, from oil to border remain outstanding. The agreement was brought together by South Africa’s former President Thabo Mbeki, but most key negotiations remain. While the initial non-aggression pact commits the two neighbors to respect each others sovereignty and territorial integrity, neither is ase on ground and there is no agreement even on the border. Conflict Flames Never Extinguished: From objective UNHCR sources it is evident that many more refugees are being created, particularly in the Blue Nile and South Kordofan: “Heavy fighting between the Sudanese armed forces and the rebel Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-North) in South Kordofan and Blue Nile has forced more than 130,000 people to flee, UNHCR spokesperson Adrian Edwards told reporters in Geneva. The agency anticipates that people will continue fleeing over the next months with clashes continuing and humanitarian conditions deteriorating in the conflict zones.” From UN News Centre sources. It is also evident that Khartoum has been employing war planes: “In South Sudan, Elfoj area in Upper Nile state and Yida refugee settlement in Unity state have both been targets of air raids. UNHCR has relocated some 20,000 refugees from unsafe border sites since 6 January, moving them to four new settlements.” South Sudan also continues to be wracked by intertribal conflict. See Film Report - diplomaticallyincorrect.org/films/movie/tribal-war-south-sudan/29555 Oil, Blessing & Curse: The main dispute though continues to be over oil, and more precisely this time over fees to be charged by Sudan to allow South Sudan to use its pipelines for export to sea ports. South Sudan’s Government has cut-off exports. The UN was critical of South Sudan’s decision as oil constitutes 98% of South Sudan’s budget – money it desperately needs as hunger and other needs are pressing. In the end, it will be determined by oil as much of the conflict has been fueled by ownership and access to the black gold. Criminal Leadership & Failed State? Sudan’s President and many of his circle have been indicted by the ICC (International Criminal Court) for grave violations of International humanitarian law. Darfur continues to experience conflict, human rights abuses and war crimes. On the other side of the border, the BBC and other media/diplomats are questioning whether South Sudan, wracked by internal conflict and corruption, is a failed state within a year of its official birth. Any agreement, even if reached on paper between these two neighbors, remains a distant reality in terms of the promise of peace, human rights and an improving life for the two countries respective citizens. Ambassador Muhamed Sacirbey - FOLLOW mo @MuhamedSacirbey Facebook-Become a Fan at “Diplomatically Incorrect”





 Twitter – Follow us at DiplomaticallyX UN Photo - Presidents of Sudan and South Sudan Meet at Independence Ceremony back in July 2011: Omar Hassan Ahmad Al-Bashir, President of Sudan, and Salva Kiir Mayardit, President of the Republic of South Sudan, greet each other at the Independence Ceremony of the new nation. UN Photo 2 - Young refugees from Blue Nile scouring for water.