Tentative peace: Three years after the Comprehensive Peace Agreement ended 21 years of civil war, the former southern militia had a military parade in July.Peter Martell/AFP/Getty /Newscom
In the south, the parliament voted to double its budget to cover military spending, and the north spent 20 percent of its budget on the military.
Juba, Sudan - Although the Arab-dominated government of Sudan and the semiautonomous region of Southern Sudan have been at peace for three years, there are signs that both sides are stepping up the pace of a cold war-style arms race.
In September, pirates off the coast of Somalia hijacked a shipment of Russian tanks reportedly destined for Southern Sudan. A month later Sudanese authorities seized an Ethiopian cargo plane they say was carrying ammunition and light armament in Juba, the capital of South Sudan. Later in October, Sudan recalled its ambassadors from Kenya and Ethiopia because the two nations were allegedly shipping arms to the south.
Arms Race, Uneasy Peace In Sudan
-- Christian Science Monitor
-- Christian Science Monitor
In the south, the parliament voted to double its budget to cover military spending, and the north spent 20 percent of its budget on the military.
Juba, Sudan - Although the Arab-dominated government of Sudan and the semiautonomous region of Southern Sudan have been at peace for three years, there are signs that both sides are stepping up the pace of a cold war-style arms race.
In September, pirates off the coast of Somalia hijacked a shipment of Russian tanks reportedly destined for Southern Sudan. A month later Sudanese authorities seized an Ethiopian cargo plane they say was carrying ammunition and light armament in Juba, the capital of South Sudan. Later in October, Sudan recalled its ambassadors from Kenya and Ethiopia because the two nations were allegedly shipping arms to the south.
Juba, Sudan - Although the Arab-dominated government of Sudan and the semiautonomous region of Southern Sudan have been at peace for three years, there are signs that both sides are stepping up the pace of a cold war-style arms race.
In September, pirates off the coast of Somalia hijacked a shipment of Russian tanks reportedly destined for Southern Sudan. A month later Sudanese authorities seized an Ethiopian cargo plane they say was carrying ammunition and light armament in Juba, the capital of South Sudan. Later in October, Sudan recalled its ambassadors from Kenya and Ethiopia because the two nations were allegedly shipping arms to the south.
Read more ....
My Comment: The Sudanese Government wants peace in Darfur so that they can then proceed with their war on the southern part of the country. South Sudan with its oil is a far more important strategic target than the refugee camps of Darfur.
In September, pirates off the coast of Somalia hijacked a shipment of Russian tanks reportedly destined for Southern Sudan. A month later Sudanese authorities seized an Ethiopian cargo plane they say was carrying ammunition and light armament in Juba, the capital of South Sudan. Later in October, Sudan recalled its ambassadors from Kenya and Ethiopia because the two nations were allegedly shipping arms to the south.
Read more ....
My Comment: The Sudanese Government wants peace in Darfur so that they can then proceed with their war on the southern part of the country. South Sudan with its oil is a far more important strategic target than the refugee camps of Darfur.