By Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED NATIONS, February 29 -- The impact of the Thabo Mbeki panel's briefing of the Security Council on February 27 was felt on February 29 as the Council heard complaints from Sudan that assistance for attacks, on Jau and elsewhere, came from South Sudan.
While by all accounts UN Peacekeeping chief Herve Ladsous had no substantive information about Jau, only second hand reports, afterward several Permanent Representatives said Jau will be "rolled into" a Presidential Statement the US is charged with drafting, supporting the Mbeki panel.
Inner City Press spoke exclusively with Mbeki after Monday's meeting, and put the video online. Since then, sources who were in the meeting have told Inner City Press that Mbeki and his co-panelist said that South Sudan is to blame for walking away from agreements.
It was said that South Sudan believes that without oil pumping, Khartoum can only last eight months, while Juba can last at least 12 months. One Council member, on this, told Inner City Press it is very bad, playing chicken this way.
The range of descriptions of the Mbeki panel briefing reflected how various Council members wanted the Mbeki panel briefing to be reported. Western countries supportive of South Sudan said little about it. Those more attuned to Khartoum said little, but now say that the mood of the Council has change, statements on Sudan must be "more balanced." What will the US do? Watch this site.
Footnote: at Wednesday's noon briefing, Inner City Press asked how Ladsous could brief since the UN on Monday said it had no access to Jau and could not confirm anything, and if Ladsous would speak to the press. On his way out of the Council, Ladsous did not say a word to the media. The vigil continues.