KHARTOUM REACTION ON BIN LADEN DEATH ‘EXPOSES TERROR FRIENDS’
The news from Khartoum, that senior officials and members of parliament of the ruling NCP described Osama Bin Laden as a ‘martyr’ and a ‘holy fighter’ brought about instant condemnation by a wide section of the Southern Sudanese leadership. The soon to be independent South Sudan has fought a long war against oppression and slavery but also against the unilateral imposition of Sharia Law on the mostly Christian Southern population, and forced the regime in Khartoum to concede their losses when they had to sign the Comprehensive Peace Agreement in January 2005 in Kenya.
Since then an uneasy relationship, marked by ups and downs, had the two erstwhile enemies ‘co-exist’ but while Khartoum hang on to its old and devious ways, the South progressively parted with the North’s failed policies, amongst them their firm stand against global terrorism.
The South, committed to fight this evil, aligned itself with a broad anti terror coalition, leading to assurances that all sanctions would be lifted when the new country is born on the 09th of July, while the regime of ICC wanted Bashir continued to blow hot and cold on the issue.
The hysteric outbursts in Khartoum, following the breaking news that Osama was finally brought to justice, and chants in parliament, amongst other places of ‘Martyr Martyr’ are a dead giveaway now of the mindset of the Khartoum regime and one regular source in Juba said in an email message: ‘whereas there is no doubt on our commitment to stand with our allies and fight terrorism, the regime in Khartoum can again only be described as a partner in that global crime. How can senior officials be overheard to say Osama is a ‘holy fighter and martyr’ and they are not immediately sacked by Bashir. But that is the true Northern Sudan, and we here think that many allegations against the regime about supporting terror are true. That is why sanctions against them remain in place as state sponsor of terrorism’.
Only recently did the Israeli air force target a car inside Sudan, with terrorists planning attacks against Israel being eliminated when the car was struck by a guided missile launched from an Israeli fighter plane, and previously convoys carrying arms and ammunition for Gaza based terrorist organizations were likewise hit and eliminated as part of a forward defense against global terror activities.
Bin Laden was enjoying a glorious exile period in Khartoum between 1991 and 1996, courtesy of the Bashir regime, before being asked to leave by the regime. After the cruise missile attack on a Bin Laden factory fears also grew that this could be repeated against other, including regime targets, eventually compelling the Khartoum regime to publicly soften their stand on terrorism while behind the scenes their support allegedly continued to this day.
Said another source from Juba: ‘we cannot wait for independence to break with this regime in Khartoum. These outbursts are disgraceful, considering the mass murders Al Qaida committed under Bin Laden, and we in the South are better than that. We know Khartoum will try to punish us for being better than them, but our alliances are growing strong and we are no longer alone’.
Watch this space for future updates on South Sudan and the march towards full independence.
