New US envoy ‘to focus on issues between Sudans’
The newly appointed US Special Envoy to Sudan and South Sudan, Ambassador Donald Booth, confirmed that he will mainly focus on the outstanding issues between Sudan and South Sudan to resolve their outstanding issues and improve Sudanese-American relations. Ambassador Booth told reporters after a meeting with El Khair El Fahim, Co-chair of the Abyei Joint Oversight Committee, that he intends to assess and understand the position of the Misseriya and their point of view on the issue of Abyei, in addition to the government’s position on the case. He called the meeting fruitful. The US embassy in Khartoum said in a statement on Friday that the new Special Envoy will hold a series of high-level meetings with government officials, members of the civil society, and representatives of international and regional organisations in Khartoum and Juba. The embassy added that Booth will express the USA’s “deep concern at the lack of progress made by Sudan and South Sudan” in fully implementing cooperation agreements. He will furthermore discuss respect for human rights and the critical need for humanitarian access to conflict areas. The Envoy will also confirm Washington’s commitment to support the realisation of the goal of both countries in achieving peaceful coexistence internally, between the countries, and with their neighbours. Sudanese Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ali Karti, said that “the US Special Envoy Donald Booth is not welcome if he intends to be a mediator in the case of Abyei”. He stated, during a press conference in Khartoum, that Washington is not qualified to discuss relations between Khartoum and Juba, accusing the USA of trying to exploit the issue of Abyei to sour relations between Khartoum and Juba. “It’s a thorn in the throat of the two countries.” Karti mentioned that Washington is seeking to “open the gate of hell” between Sudan and South Sudan. File photo: US President Barack Obama meets with Ambassador Donald Booth, Special Envoy for Sudan and South Sudan, in the Oval Office, on 28 August 2013. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza) Related: Obama names Donald Booth as new Sudan special envoy (29 August 2013)
The newly appointed US Special Envoy to Sudan and South Sudan, Ambassador Donald Booth, confirmed that he will mainly focus on the outstanding issues between Sudan and South Sudan to resolve their outstanding issues and improve Sudanese-American relations.
Ambassador Booth told reporters after a meeting with El Khair El Fahim, Co-chair of the Abyei Joint Oversight Committee, that he intends to assess and understand the position of the Misseriya and their point of view on the issue of Abyei, in addition to the government’s position on the case. He called the meeting fruitful.
The US embassy in Khartoum said in a statement on Friday that the new Special Envoy will hold a series of high-level meetings with government officials, members of the civil society, and representatives of international and regional organisations in Khartoum and Juba.
The embassy added that Booth will express the USA’s “deep concern at the lack of progress made by Sudan and South Sudan” in fully implementing cooperation agreements. He will furthermore discuss respect for human rights and the critical need for humanitarian access to conflict areas. The Envoy will also confirm Washington’s commitment to support the realisation of the goal of both countries in achieving peaceful coexistence internally, between the countries, and with their neighbours.
Sudanese Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ali Karti, said that “the US Special Envoy Donald Booth is not welcome if he intends to be a mediator in the case of Abyei”.
He stated, during a press conference in Khartoum, that Washington is not qualified to discuss relations between Khartoum and Juba, accusing the USA of trying to exploit the issue of Abyei to sour relations between Khartoum and Juba. “It’s a thorn in the throat of the two countries.” Karti mentioned that Washington is seeking to “open the gate of hell” between Sudan and South Sudan.
File photo: US President Barack Obama meets with Ambassador Donald Booth, Special Envoy for Sudan and South Sudan, in the Oval Office, on 28 August 2013. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
Related: Obama names Donald Booth as new Sudan special envoy (29 August 2013)
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