Khartoum demands immediate steps from Juba on rebels

Sudan on Sunday demanded South Sudan to take practical and immediate step to stop support to Sudanese rebels or sheltering them.
The South Sudan government must stop backing rebel groups as bilateral interests have to be based on clear-cut and sound basis to protect stability in both, official spokesman of Sudan's Foreign Ministry Youssef Al-Kordofani said in a press statement.
Khartoum has documented intelligence that the South Sudan still offers logistic support to rebels, which runs contrary to the required spirit for bilateral ties, he stressed.
Al-Kordofani urged Juba to work on preserving ties with Khartoum North and stick to its vows to stop supporting rebels.
Tensions rose between the two countries after the separation of South Sudan from Sudan in 2011, and they traded accusations of supporting rebels against each. However, both signed the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) in Addis Ababa in September 2012, sponsored by the African Union.
Last November Presidents Omar Al-Bashir and Salva Kiir agreed to boost the mechanisms on halting backing armed rebels, following talks in Khartoum.
Rebel groups in the Sudan escalated operations against the Khartoum government after the collapse of peace talks between both in Ethiopia last month.