Sudan's Minister of Defense Abdel Rahim Mohamed Hussein on Tuesday warned against a unilateral decision in favor of secession by Sudan's south. The move would be in contravention of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement signed in 2005 that ended more than two decades of civil war, Hussein said.
"That would be illegal, and the African Union will not recognize it," said the minister, who met with President Hosni Mubarak Tuesday morning at the presidential palace in Cairo.
Hussein, when asked about border demarcation agreement, said only 80 percent of the border has been established. Demarcation lines for four smaller regions–Jouda, al-Majanes, Hofrat al-Nahhas, and Kaka–in addition to Abyei, remain undetermined, according to Hussein.
The minister stressed to Mubarak the necessity of demarcating the border in order to avoid a resumption of violence.
Hussein said the importance of Abyei does not only lie in its oil reserves, as propagated by media outlets, but also in the fact that some major pastural northern Sudanese tribes spend about seven months there annually.
He said southern representatives have been absent from recent meetings held over the past months to discuss outstanding issues.
Hussein emphasized that a deal has yet to be reached over the deployment of international forces during the pre-referendum period. "This point is not on the table, and the EU and UN have denied such an intention," he said.
Hussein said Mubarak expressed Egypt's eagerness to provide Sudan with all assistance possible. The Egyptian president also voiced his support for a transparent referendum, Hussein said.
The minister also delivered President Mubarak a message from Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir. According to Hussein, al-Bashir's message tackled the obstacles facing the referendum, and delineated necessary steps to be taken before holding the vote.
Hussein noted that talks are currently being held to address a number of unresolved issues of identity, debts, and oil sharing, in order to ensure the referendum acts to support peace and stability.
Asked whether there are signs that the referendum might be called off, Hussein said reality and logic would require postponement. Moreover, Hussein stressed controversial issues must be resolved within the frame of a unified Sudan. Secession would pave the way for foreign intervention and discord, said Hussein.
