By Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED NATIONS, February 28 -- The town and topic of Jau, on the ill-defined border of Sudan and South Sudan, was again discussed in UN Security Council closed door consultations on Tuesday, Inner City Press has learned.
Sudan has complained in writing to the Council that the recent taking of Jau by the united SPLM-North and Darfur-based Justice and Equality Movement was, in fact, assisted by South Sudan.
On Monday outside another closed door Council meeting, a "holistic" briefing by Thabo Mbeki on the range of Sudan and South Sudan issues including oil, South Sudan's Ambassador David Choat told Inner City Press there are two Jau's - one in Sudan and the other in South Sudan.
Council sources tell Inner City Press that the United States wanted to push back the briefing and session on Sudan's complaint about Jau "until the letter is translated;" still, a well placed source predicted a session on it will take place tomorrow Wednesday, the final day of Togo's Council presidency.
During the last round of fighting about Jau in December 2011, the chief of UN Peacekeeping Herve Ladsous said in essence it is up to the parties -- Sudan and South Sudan -- to decide on which side of the border Jau is located.
There was been little progress since. Tuesday it was announced that UN Mission in South Sudan chief Hilde Johnson is traveling to Uganda, Kenya and Sudan itself, which she has often said is not in her mandate. What is the trip about and what will be accomplished? And, again, what DID Johnson mean when she answered Inner City Press on camera that Russia "subsequently" told the UN its helicopters would fly, after grouding them? What WAS the death toll in Pibor? Watch this site.
