Juba vows neutrality in Sudan conflict as it enters eighth week

The Acting Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Deng Dau Deng said that Juba does not have plans to take sides in the ongoing conflict in neighboring Sudan.

He instead said they have responsibility to resolve the conflict which is entering the eighth week since eruption on April 15.

 “We cannot interfere with what is happening in Sudan, but we have a very big responsibility (mediation) as an immediate neighbor like the rest of the neighboring countries around Sudan,” Deng told journalists on Thursday at Pyramid Hotel in Juba.

He revealed these remarks during the ceremony organized by the Eritrean business community to donate 100 million SSP to assist evacuate returnees held up in Sudan and other places in Upper Nile State.

 “We have over 2 million South Sudanese in Khartoum and in other states of Sudan, South Sudan respects internal affairs of other countries,” Deng said.

Violence broke out in Khartoum, the capital of Sudan on April 15 following disagreement between Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the head of the Sudan Sovereign Council and his then deputy Gen. Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo better known as Hemedti.

The two leaders disagreed over the timeline toward transition to civilian rule after they both overthrew the internationally backed civilian-led government in October 2021.

Al-Burhan and Dagalo also disagreed over the period for integrating the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) led by the latter into the Sudan Armed Forces.

The conflict has killed more than 1000 people and displaced millions both internally and externally.