Radio station accused of rebel links

Sudan has complained to the Dutch authorities over its support for a planned Christian radio station. According to the government, the station had links with southern rebels, AFP said. ‘Al-Ayyam’ newspaper said Sudan’s ambassador to the Netherlands, Abd al-Halim Babo, had told Dutch Development Minister Eveline Herfkens that the radio station supported the southern-based Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA). Babo claimed that one of the SPLA leaders, Taylor Deng, owned shares in the station.

But AFP said it was unable to confirm whether the Sudan government had officially lodged a complaint with the Dutch government. The Netherlands acting charge d’affaires in Khartoum, Jan Waltmans, told AFP that his country was helping to finance the New Sudan Council of Churches’ radio station, but would not confirm or deny a link between the station and the SPLA. The radio station’s launch was announced on 14 December. According to Waltmans, the station’s agreement with the Dutch provided for closure if it broadcast pro-rebel or anti-government propaganda. “We want the station to be neutral,” Waltmans told AFP.