Special to WorldTribune.com

WASHINGTON — The United States has been urged to ship anti-aircraft
batteries to South Sudan.

A former senior U.S. official said South Sudan required urgent
assistance to repel the daily air strikes by Sudan.

Former U.S. special envoy to Sudan Andrew Natsios said U.S. air defense batteries to Juba would force the Khartoum regime of Sudanese President Omar Bashir to negotiate with the south.

“South Sudan is less than a year old,” Natsios wrote in a column for the Washington Post. “Its war with the north is the result of an imbalance of military power that has encouraged military adventurism. Omar Al Bashir, president of the north and a possible coup target, believes he can secure his future by bombing the south into submission instead of negotiating.”

The United Nations has confirmed daily air strikes of the new southern republic by the Sudanese military. In March, South Sudan reported the downing of a Sudanese Air Force MiG-29 fighter-jet amid the war over disputed oil fields.

“Although the south has a large, well-motivated ground army, it has no air force or anti-aircraft weapons to defend its people,” Natsios said.

In January, the administration of President Barack Obama designated
South Sudan as eligible to request weapons from the United States. So far,
Washington has provided $30 million in military aid to Juba.

“If the United States provides the materiel, the south can end the
north’s bombing campaign,” Natsios said. “Most northern air force pilots are
mercenaries — if they start taking heavy losses, they will leave Sudan
quickly.”

  $30 million in military aid to Juba, Andrew Natsios, daily air strikes on South Sudan, Emergency anti-aircraft weapons urged for South Sudan, Obama administration, Omar al-Bashir