Sudan raises concerns over international intervention

Sudan has raised concerns over new developments that allow international intervention in interior affairs under the disguise of human rights, during a meeting of the Council for Human Rights of the United Nations in Geneva. The Sudanese government has agreed on a trilateral initiative, put forward by the Arab League, the African Union, and the United Nations, to deal with the humanitarian problems in South Kordofan and Blue Nile, following South Sudan’s split from the country in 2011 under a 2005 peace deal. The deal ended decades of civil war, but the two have remained at odds over a range of issues. Sudan’s Minister of Justice Mohamed Bishara Dosa said his country was "deeply concerned about the development of new concepts that are not an internationally agreed on, and are not based on the principles of international law, such as intervention in the Interior affairs in the name of humanitarian affairs, pre-emptive wars, and guardianship under the guise of the human rights condition." He accused South Sudan of supporting the rebels in the disputed border region, in violation of the Charter of the United Nations and the African Union. South Sudan has resorted to force to occupy the Sudanese region Heglig, which is rich in oil, as well as destroying buildings and oil fields in April; “another violation of the Charter of the United Nations and international law, and the principle of good neighborliness," alleged Dosa. "The Sudanese government practiced the right to defend civilians in Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile, from attacks they launch on the innocent in both states from outside the borders of Sudan,” he said. "Sudan has practiced the utmost restraint towards all these attacks, and was committed to dialogue to solve differences with the new state,” added Dosa. Sudan hopes to resolve the differences between the two countries through the current negotiations in Addis Ababa. Dosa also reviewed the improved conditions in Darfur region and the continuous efforts in implementing the peace agreement, signed in Doha last year to solve the crisis in the region. Sudan will continue to cooperate with Sudan and the United Nations over human rights issues and has agreed to extend the work of the independent expert Mashood Durban. It will continue to consult with community groups and various political forces to reach a permanent agreement, which doesn’t exclude anyone.