Sudan has 'declared war' on South Sudan On a visit to China, Salva Kiir, South Sudan's president, told his counterpart, Hu Jintao, that, "[my visit] comes at a very critical moment ... because our neighbour in Khartoum has declared war on the Republic of South Sudan." Mr Kiir is in Beijing to strengthen economic links to China, which has traditionally been a closer ally to Mr Bashir in Sudan. "China sincerely hopes that South Sudan and Sudan can become good neighbours who coexist in amity and good partners who develop together," Mr Hu told Mr Kiir during their meeting, according to Chinese state television. The urgent task is to actively co-operate with the mediation efforts of the international community and halt armed conflict in the border areas. Civilian protection groups in Bentiu called for more outside help from the African Union and Western powers, including Britain, which helped broker a 2005 peace deal that ended the countries' last civil war. "The continued attack on the civilian settlements is no longer just an aggression, it is becoming a clear human rights violation," said Biel Boutros, executive director of the South Sudan Human Rights Association. Since South Sudan cut off the flow of crude from its oilfields in January, both countries have suffered severe losses of income. "Neither side has any money, but both appear blind to the awful effect that war will have on their finances, and their civilian populations," one European diplomat in Khartoum said.