July 25, 2014 (KHARTOUM) – Sudanese foreign minister Ali Karti vowed that his country would play a leading role in the resolution of the seven-month conflict in South Sudan.

South Sudan’s president, Salva Kiir, is accompanied by his Sudanese counterpart Omer Hassan al-Bashir (L) after arriving at Khartoum Airport on 5 April 2014 (Photo: Reuters/Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah)

Speaking in a radio talk show on Friday Karti said “Sudan was able to play a bigger role in the resolution of the South Sudan conflict” between two factions of the ruling Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM).

He further said that his government preferred to give a greater role for a regional mediation and to avoid any accusations that Khartoum tries to take advantage of the situation and impose a solution serving its interests.

However, “Sudan should play a leading role in the coming period” pointed out the foreign minister.

Karti’s statements explains the low-profile attitude adopted by Khartoum since the eruption of the South Sudanese crisis in December 2013.

Since the independence of South Sudan in January 2011, the relations between the two countries have been strained by border disputes and accusations of support to rebel groups.

However, Sudanese president Omer al-Bashir travelled to Juba in January 2014 and announced his support to the elected president Salva Kiir.

The Sudanese foreign minister also denied that his government allowed the rebel SPLM in Opposition to open an office in Khartoum.

He asserted that there would be no a rebel representation in the Sudanese capital without the consent of the legitimate government in Juba.

“And only for the purpose of providing an opportunity for more communication between the two parties to reach peace in South Sudan,” he said.

(ST)