SPLM on Scott Gration

Posted By Elizabeth Dickinson Friday, November 20, 2009 - 2:41 PM Share

Via Mideast Wire, here's a translation of what the Sudan People's Liberation Movement ambassador to Washington, Akec Khoc, told the Arabic newspaper Asharq al-Awsat about Gration:

Q: “How do you see the current American-Sudanese relations?
A: “For more than ten years, i.e. during the term of the administration of President Clinton then the administration of George Bush, the relationship has been very tense. And there have been many differences and clashes. But of course and thanks to the efforts of General Gration and after president Barack Obama has declared his new Sudan policy, it has became clear that the relationship developed greatly. We are very optimistic. For many years now, the relationship has not improved that much and it is not the best relation. But things are on the right track."
Q: "But many American NGOs are criticizing Obama's policies towards Sudan?"

A: "In the United States as in other countries, there are some parties that want our relations with Washington to deteriorate and wish to give a negative image of Sudan around the world, not only in regard to the Darfur issue but also in other cases. They think that Sudan is an easy target. But we in Sudan will always welcome anyone who wants to work with us peacefully and away from any media commotion. And now under Obama who has decided to open up to everybody and deal with many countries among which is Sudan, I sincerely hope that his efforts will be successful."

Update: This post has been updated to reflect a correction. A wise commenter has pointed out that our Arabic transcript was incomplete. The ambassador, Akec Khoc (not John Akweg) is a member of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) -- not the Khartoum government. We regret the error and thank our commentor for pointing this out!

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4:26 PM ET

November 20, 2009

Ambassador is member of the SPLM

First, the article - if you read the full version in Arabic - states the ambassador's name as Akec Khoc and not John Akweg.

Second, I think its important to note that in the interview Khoc states that he is a member of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) led by Salva Kiir - and not Omar al-Bashir's National Congress Party (NCP).

Of course, there are different factions within the SPLM - that have different opinions on a range of issues such as American sanctions, how to solve Darfur, and the International Criminal Court's proceedings against Bashir. But in this interview, Khoc is clearly speaking as the ambassador of Sudan who, importantly, is a member of the SPLM that is part of the Government of National Unity with the NCP.

Therefore, it is not surprising that he might compliment the efforts of General Gration and especially the Obama Administration.

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