A Sudanese official who denied there had been air strikes against the people in the Nuba mountains was challenged by Channel 4 News’ Lindsey Hilsum who said she had spoken to people who had fled the attacks.

Mohamed Abdalla Ali Eltom, deputy head of mission at the Republic of Sudan’s London embassy was speaking just days before details of a UN report emerged  detailing  attacks carried out by Sudanese army and allied forces on Nuba civilians in South Kordofan that could amount to war crimes.

But Lindsey Hilsum, international editor for Channel 4 News, who has recently returned from Sudan, insisted she had seen evidence that the bombing was being carried out.

"I’ve spoken to refugees who were under your bombs. About 10 days ago I spoke to five refugees who had been bombed by your forces in the Nuba mountains who had fled across the border, so yes you are." 

Asked to explain his government’s actions in the region, the deputy head of mission said: "We are fighting the rebels in the mountains, we are not bombing the Nubas."

Mohamed Abdalla Ali Eltom blamed the rebels for being unwilling to accept defeat in elections in South Kordofan, where the Nuba mountains are located:

"As soon as the results of the elections were announced and they discovered they didn’t win, they immediately started to attack government troops. Of course, as a responsible government, if you are attacked you have to respond. This is quite natural."

The event, which marked the creation of the new nation of South Sudan began with two reports from the region by Lindsey Hilsum for Channel 4 News.

I wanted to give a sense of what the place is like at this moment," said Hilsum, adding that she found it "this strange mixture of depressing and uplifting at the same time."

Chaired by Richard Dowden, director of the Royal African Society, the discussion that followed focused largely on the problems both North and South Sudan, including that of corruption, dismantling the Sudan Peoples’ Liberation Movement, oil and how citizenship of South Sudan was determined.  

Watch the video or listen to the podcast for in-depth coverage of the situation in North and South Sudan from Dr Ahmed Al-Shahi, research fellow and co-founder of the Sudan Programme at St Antony’s College, Oxford University and Natznet Tesfay, head of Africa forecasting at Exclusive Analysis.

The Republic of South Sudan was awash with celebrations this weekend as it became officially independent from the North following a landslide referendum in February this year, when 99 per cent of South Sudanese voted for independence.

Juba, the new capital, was packed with dignitaries and officials to mark the new county’s creation. Among them was the new President of Sudan, Salva Kiir Mayardit, the UK ambassador for the Republic, Alistair McPhaill OBE and UN General Secretary, Ban Ki Moon.

Sudan’s president Omar al Bashir was the first to officially recognise the new country and bless his "brothers in the south". But, he warned, "brotherly relations depended on secure borders and non-interference in each others’ affairs".

Only hours after secession, Sudan’s ruling National Congress Party deployed troops to the ‘flashpoint states’ in the areas surrounding South Kordofan and Blue Nile that have been at the centre of fierce fighting and conflict. Despite the governmen’s insistence that such an exercise is ‘routine’, the timing appears to be a show of force over the new South.

Salva Kiir’s speech at the celebrations balanced the need to maintain relations with Bashir whilst asserting the country’s newly-found independence: "Abyei, Darfur, Blue Nile and South Kordofan we have not forgotten you. When you cry, we cry,” he said.

The new president also granted amnesty to those who fought against him. At the same time, Bashir has revoked the citizenship of all South Sudanese who live in the north.

Despite agreement over independence, there are still logistical considerations that need to be addressed between the two countries. With disputes over oil, national borders and citizenship, the 193rd country of the world has a lot of problems to resolve if it wants to shake off the ‘pre-failed state label.’ With analysts less than optimistic about the country’s prospects of doing so, the reality of independence is becoming increasingly clear.

Tomorrow night will be discussing what the future holds for North and South Sudan with an expert panel that includes: Lindsey Hilsum who has just returned from South Sudan; Lord Teverson, chair of the House of Lords EU Foreign Affairs Sub-Committee which as just published ‘The EU and Sudan: On the Brink of Change; Dr Ahmed al-Shahi co-founder of the Sudan Programme at Oxford University and Natznet Tesfay, head of Africa Forecasting at Exclusive Analysis Ltd.

The event will be chaired by Richard Dowden, Director of the Royal African Society.