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Sudan Tribune

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S. Sudan tightens security ahead of Bashir’s Juba visit

April 12, 2013 (JUBA) – South Sudan stepped up security measures in the capital Juba on Thursday ahead of today’s high-level visit into the country by a delegation from the Sudanese government, expected to be headed by president Omer Al Bashir.

South Sudan's Salva Kiir and Sudan's Omer Al Bashir at the independence day celebrations, July 9, 2011 (ST)
South Sudan’s Salva Kiir and Sudan’s Omer Al Bashir at the independence day celebrations, July 9, 2011 (ST)
Some roads had been closed by 5.30pm local time, restricting movement in some areas of Juba. South Sudan’s government has urged citizens to turn out in large numbers to give Bashir a warm welcome for his first visit since he last graced the country’s July 9, 2011 independence ceremony.

“We would ask for a warm reception from our citizens in honour of the visit [of the Sudanese president],” Barnaba Marial, South Sudan’s Information minister told a press conference in Juba, Thursday.

Schools, shops, international organisations and government institutions as well as offices have been asked not to open to allow people line-up the route between Juba airport and J1, the offices of South Sudan’s president Salva Kiir.

Posters of Bashir and Kiir have also been put up around the capital ahead of Friday’s event.

Marial said the Sudanese leader will be accompanied by a 65-member delegation comprising of his advisors, ministers of defense, interior and foreign affairs; and high ranking government officials.

He said Bashir and his South Sudan counterpart, Kiir will hold a one-to-one meeting, which will later be preceded by a ministerial meeting between the two countries, co-chaired by the two presidents.

“The two leaders will mainly discuss all the main areas of last year’s Cooperation Agreement signed between two countries and the key issues within it,” he said, adding that focus will be on the nine agreements reached.

Bashir was originally scheduled to visit Juba in March last year, reciprocating Kiir’s trip to Khartoum in autumn 2011. But tensions around the export of South Sudan’s oil through the north, as well as other issues such as border demarcation and disputed areas has caused the 13 month delay.

South Sudan minister of National Security in the office of the president, Oyai Deng Ajak, said security forces in the country had completed preparations for the event.

Bashir and his delegation will be given the “utmost security attention”, he said.

The minister further said police were prepared in every aspect to ensure the one-day visit of the Sudanese leader is devoid of protests. Since Bashir’s last visit over 20 months ago, communities on the border with Sudan have repeatedly complained of cross border attacks and bombings.

Khartoum has always denied attacking South Sudanese territory, claiming it only targets rebels trying to cross into Sudan. Juba likewise denies backing rebellions in Sudan’s peripheries.

Disputes over border security issues have blighted north-south relations since independence but in March the two sides agreed to implement the Cooperation Agreement signed in September 2012, paving the way for oil production to resume this month.

Sudan and South Sudan have also agreed to create a demilitarised buffer zone along the tense 2,000km border. The inclusion of some areas in the Safe Demilitarised Buffer Zone has proved highly controversial, especially in South Sudan’s Northern Bahr el Ghazal state.

The status of Abyei, which is claimed by both countries, has also not been resolved, with a vote delayed for over two years due to differences on who should be allowed to vote.

Ajak said security services were ready to prevent protestors from border communities or other groups intending to disrupt Bashir’s reception.

South Sudan’s deputy Interior minister, Salva Mathok Gengdit, said security forces have been deployed to strategic locations along all routes that the Sudanese delegation is expected to pass. A mobile group is ready to be deployed to contain any disruption, he added.

“The Central Equatoria State police, the city council police and the South Sudan National Police Service together with other organised force and security organs are now working together to ensure that the event of tomorrow passes off peacefully”, stressed the minister.

South Sudan’s coordinating team have confirmed that every single person involved in securing the convoy or serving the President’s entourage, including waiters and producers, have undergone security screening.

Only selected media houses have been accredited to attend and cover the presidential and ministerial level meetings. President Bashir is also expected to address a press conference after the meetings.

AU WELCOMES VISIT

Meanwhile, African Union Chairperson, Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma on Friday welcomed the Sudanese president’s decision to visit his South Sudan counterpart, saying she believes this visit will provide a further opportunity for the two heads of states to consolidate the progress made in their relations in recent weeks.

The meeting, Zuma said in a statement, should be used as an opportunity for the two leaders to address the remaining outstanding issues between them.

She however called on both sides to urgently to agree to the full implementation of the June 2011 Agreement on Temporary Arrangements for the Administration and Security of the Abyei Area, in particular as it relates to the establishment of the Abyei Area Administration, Abyei Area Council, and the Abyei Area Police Service.

The AU commission chief, specifically urged both countries to resolve the final status of Abyei, and in particular to agree to the composition and establishment of the Abyei Referendum Commission.

(ST)

Bashir’s visit to Juba

Sudan’s President Omar al-Bashir visited Juba on April 12 for the first time since South Sudan’s secession in 2011 for talks with his counterpart Salva Kiir. The two presidents failed to strike a deal on the issue of the contested Abyei region but did agree to implement previous agreements.

Storified by Sudan Tribune· Mon, Apr 15 2013 18:52:04

Video coverage of the summit.
Sudan’s Bashir visits South Sudanaljazeeraenglish
Presidents Al-Bashir and Salva Kiir Hold Closed-Door Meeting in Jubassudanonline
Sudan presidents agree on previous dealsenewschannel
Bashir and Kiir seemed in good spirits when they met at Juba airport.
President Salva Kiir of the Republic of South Sudan hosts President Omar Hassan al-Bashir of the Republic of Sudan. President Bashir visited Juba on April 12, 2013.Pan-African News Wire File Photos
President Kiir and behind him Governor of CES Wani welcomes President Bashir to South Sudanmy momory
President Omar Hassan al-Bashir of the Republic of Sudan with President Salva Kiir of the Republic of South Sudan in Juba during an official state visit. The two states are working to normalize relations.Pan-African News Wire File Photos
Later in the day the addressed a joint press conference.
Presidents Kiir & Bashir addressing a joint press briefing after their meeting in Juba on 12 April 2013 #SouthSudan pic.twitter.com/RfAhqJSM3RGov of South Sudan
Photos: Sudan’s president visits JubaJUBA (12 Apr.) – President Omar Hassan Al Bashir made a one-day visit to the South Sudanese capital today, his first visit since before the referendum in January 2011. full story: http://radiotamazuj.org/en/article/photos-sudan%E2%80%99s-president-visits-jubaTamazuj Cross Borders
Tweets about Bashir’s visit.
Friday was President Bashir’s first official visit to @RepSouthSudan since independence in July 2011 #SouthSudanGov of South Sudan
Al-Bashir’s visit to South Sudan is a “major progress” in improving the relationship between Khartoum and Juba bit.ly/Zl7vlqSudaneseOnline
#UN, #AU welcome Bashir-Kiir meeting in #Juba sudantribune.com/spip.php?artic… #Kiir #Bashir #Sudan #SouthSudan #AfricaSudan Tribune
#Bashir in #Juba: No deal over #Abyei, talks to continue sudantribune.com/spip.php?artic… #Sudan #SouthSudanSudan Tribune
I didn’t call South Sudanese “insects”, #Bashir says sudantribune.com/spip.php?artic… #SouthSudan #Sudan #SPLMSudan Tribune
#Sudanese president orders “resumption” of border trade with #SouthSudan sudantribune.com/spip.php?artic… #Sudan #Bashir #Kiir #JubaSudan Tribune
Al-Bashir has invited President Salva Kiir to Khartoum for more discussion on cooperation agreementsRadio Miraya
Many South Sudanese expressed their unhappiness about Bashir’s visit for political reasons:
Some decisions taken in Juba leaves one baffled as to what is going on under president Kiir’s black hat.in my opinion ,Bashir should have been not accorded such grand reception in the drop of air and ground attack orders in mile 14 ,Jau and Upper Nile .One has to be really an ” insect ” to go ahead ,roll out red carpet and orchestrated musical band for blood thirsty facist like Bashir.Abataach John
After the oil was shutdown early march 2012, who did not faced what in south Sudan as a whole because some south Sudanese people are giving vague comments opposing President Bashir his visit to Juba Capital of South Sudan last Friday?????????????????/,,,,,,,,,,,,I really appreciate the Khartoum and Bashir’s government to accepted and implements the current and recent last signed documents of peace deal between the two neighboring countries, North and South Sudan, In the last one year, south Sudan was facing challenges of insecurity,austerer measures which had leads to reduction of public employees as well as their salaries,retirement of some government officials, lack of fuel , transportation of goods was a critical problem faced by our national traders, Poverty was also interfering with innocent citizens’ livs, Our major issue as south Sudanese, we think of supporting the rest of Sudanese rebels when we do not have enough military and logistics support to them, it is like a say, saying that, when there is an outbreak of war, you cannot run with some body’s child while leaving your child behind, this was a clear indication to our government and it has really sabotage the signing of pending documents between the two countries which would have been signed since last two years 2011-12.Lonymajak Makuei
While others noted or complained about the effect his visit had on Juba itself:
Juba getting back normal after BashirMarial Jieng
I don’t see the reason why people of S.Sudan particularly in Juba were punished to foot all over in Juba the all day just because Bashir came for a visit to Juba last friday till 6pm when vehicles were now allowed to move.To me, it’s useless to honour sb who doesn’t pay you back the same respect.Because in the near future when our president Gen.Salva Kiir visits Khartoum,Bashir will not even receive him at the airport.Instead of closing the businesses in his country on that day.Isn’t that humilation?So let’s stop honoring Bashir if we want him to stop calling us insect.Lew Pur
However, many were more positive…
In my view, coming of president Bashiir to Juba will only help in strengthening relationship between two countries for normalization of hostilities and implementation of 4 freedoms agreement but post referendum issues will remain un solve, for neither instance border demarcation nor Abeyi referendum are implemented and list is long…….. The evidence is years!Simon Aban
…including the African Union
The Chairperson of the Commission of the African Union (AU), Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, congratulates President Omar Hassan al-Bashir of Sudan and President Salva Kiir Mayardit of South Sudan for their fruitful summit meeting yesterday in Juba, South Sudan, which was a further demonstration of their commitment to foster the normalization of relations between the two countries and promote the wellbeing of their peoples.Omar Arouna

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