Sudan, South Sudan discuss unrest after UN helicopter downed

The leaders of Sudan and South Sudan have held talks over the telephone to discuss unrest in South Sudan, Anadolu has reported.

The discussions between Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, leader of Sudan’s Sovereign Council, and South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir on Sunday evening dwelt on bilateral relations and issues of mutual concern, said the council in a statement.

Burhan was “reassured” about the overall situation in South Sudan, he pointed out. “The Sudanese government is keen on sustaining security and stability in South Sudan.”

Kiir reiterated his commitment to working to strengthen mutual cooperation between Juba and Khartoum. “The South Sudanese government is keen on establishing security and stability and normalising security conditions in the country,” he added.

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The contact came shortly after the US ordered non-emergency government personnel to leave South Sudan amid security concerns.

“Armed conflict is ongoing and includes fighting between various political and ethnic groups,” said the US State Department. “Weapons are readily available to the population.”

On Friday, a UN helicopter was targeted in Nasir City if the north-east Upper Nile State while trying to evacuate soldiers, leaving at least 27 people dead. The UN said that Friday’s incident, which could deal a blow to an already fragile peace process, was “utterly abhorrent” and a possible war crime.

A power-sharing agreement between Kiir and first vice-president Riek Machar has been threatened in recent weeks by clashes between their allied forces in the Upper Nile state. The White Army, a militia that Kiir’s government said is linked to Machar’s ethnic Nuer community, took control of Nasir city after clashes with government forces.

South Sudan gained independence from Sudan after a 2011 referendum.

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