Africa

June 12, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - The chairman of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement/North (SPLM-N) Malik Agar Monday has relieved the Movement's official spokesperson besides a number of heads of external offices.

SPLM-N leader Malik Agar (C) his deputy Abdel Aziz al-Hilu (L) and SG Yasir Arman pose for a picture in undisclosed location in the rebel controlled areas in March 2014 (AFP/Getty Photo)

However, the SPLM-N Abdel Aziz al-Hilu issued a statement predicting that Agar would promote the SPLA-N command and other military officers and warned that he has no authority to make such decisions.

The Nuba Mountains Leadership Council (NMLC) of the SPLM-N decided to install Abdel-Aziz al-Hilu as temporary chairman of the Movement and relieved Agar from the leadership of the armed group together with the Secretary General Yasser Arman. However, Agar rejected the move describing it as a “coup d'état”.

In two executive decisions extended to Sudan Tribune, Agar relieved the Movement official spokesperson Arnu Ngutulu Lodi and the heads of SPLM-N chapters in United Kingdom, Ireland, South Africa, the Netherlands and Canada.

He further decided to appoint Mubarak Ardol as the official spokesperson of the Movement and the army and to appoint Lieut. Col. Mawjoud Mohamed Daoud as an official spokesperson of the peace file.

Recently, Arnu Ngutulu Lodi has joined al-Hilu's group and issued a statement calling on the Movement base to support the new leadership.

"SABOTAGE SCHEME"

In a swift reaction to Agar's decisions, the Office of SPLM-N al-Hilu Chairman released a statement warning against a "sabotage scheme" that Agar is implementing saying he would continue issuing a series of decisions of dismissal, appointment and illegal upgrade within the SPLA-N.

Agar plans to "promote to the rank of Lieutenant General, Major General Gagod Mukwar Murada, Ahmed Al-Umda Badi and Izzat Koko Angelo" in addition to the promotion of a number of brigade commanders to the rank of major general," further said the statement extended to Sudan Tribune on Monday night.

It further says that these decisions have no legitimacy and only made for the purpose of seducing these officers to join their "defeatist project".

" We direct the officers, non-commissioned officers and soldiers of the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) not to deal with or follow these illegitimate decisions aimed at undermining the decisions of the Liberation Councils of the Blue Nile and Nuba Mountains/Southern Kordofan, and to spread sedition and chaos," said the statement.

The Sudanese army has been fighting SPLM-N rebels in the Blue Nile and South Kordofan, also known as the Two Areas since 2011.

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June 12, 2017 (EL-FASHER) - Two people were killed and ten others injured on Sunday by unidentified gunmen at the locality of Al-Twisha, North Darfur State.

An eyewitness by the name of Ahmed Daw al-Bait told Sudan Tribune Monday that residents from the Um Katkout village were chasing gunmen who stole their cattle when they were ambushed, saying two villagers have been killed and 10 others injured.

According to the eyewitness, the injured have been transferred to El-Fasher, North Darfur capital for treatment.

For his part, the member of the North Darfur legislative council Sulieman Mukhtar told Sudan Tribune that a group of residents from Um Katkout have been ambushed, saying two were killed and 10 others injured, including three seriously.

Mukhtar added that additional numbers of villagers have headed to the incident's scene, urging the authorities to protect them against any further attack.

He pointed that the gunmen are unknown, calling on the security organs to hunt down the perpetrators and bring them to justice.

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June 12, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - A tripartite meeting between Sudan, United States and Norway Monday has discussed the Sudanese-American relations and the situation in South Sudan, said Sudan's Foreign Ministry

In a press release extended to Sudan Tribune, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Gharib Allah Khidir said Foreign Minister Ibrahim Ghandour has met in Oslo with the representative of the Office of the U.S. Envoy for Sudan and South Sudan, Paul Steven and the Norwegian Special Envoy for Sudan and South Sudan Erling Skojonsberg.

According to Khidir, the meeting discussed “the course of Sudan-US relations regarding the five-track engagement between the two sides besides some regional issues, especially the situation South Sudan”.

On 13 January, former U.S. President Barack Obama signed an executive order to ease the 19-year sanctions against Sudan enabling trade and investment transactions to resume with the east African nation.

Washington is involved in a five-track engagement process with the Sudan over the permanent lift of sanctions on Sudan. Several agencies, including the State Department, have to present to President Donald Trump this month their findings and recommendations over the fate of the sanctions.

The five-track process includes the fight against terrorism, Uganda's Lord's Resistance Army (LRA), Sudan's role in the peace process in South Sudan, Sudan's peace and the humanitarian situation in the South Kordofan and Blue Nile states.

SUDAN-NORWAY RELATIONS

Meanwhile, Ghandour on Monday has discussed with his Norwegian counterpart Børge Brende ways to promote bilateral ties between the two countries in the various fields.

According to Khidir, the meeting also discussed regional and international challenges besides the internal developments in Sudan.

He added that Ghandour invited Brende to visit Khartoum, saying the latter has accepted the invitation and promised to fulfil it as soon as possible.

Khidir pointed that Ghandour has briefed Brende on the pivotal role played by Sudan to resolve some regional crises, particularly in South Sudan, stressing participation of President Omer al-Bashir in the IGAD summit on South Sudan.

The press release added that Ghandour pointed to Sudan's engagement with the regional and international partners to address the crisis in South Sudan, stressing the importance to reach a ceasefire and resume talks among all warring parties.

It pointed that the two sides agreed to continue the work of the political consultation mechanisms between the two countries, saying Norway vowed to support Sudan's request to join the World Trade Organization (WTO).

Khidir further said Sudan's top diplomat and his Norwegian counterpart agreed to exchange diplomatic training between the two countries, saying Brende pledged to support peace efforts in Darfur and the Two Areas.

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Documenting daily life in Ugandan refugee settlements.

June 12, 2017 (JUBA)- South Sudan President Salva Kiir has received a special message from his Egyptian counterpart, Abdul Fatah al-Sisi, in which that latter assured the former of support and strengthening bilateral relations in various areas.

Egypt's assistant minister of Foreign Affairs for South Sudan and Sudan with President Salva Kiir, June 12, 2017 (ST)

Ambassador Ahamed Fadel Yaguop, Egypt's assistant minister of Foreign Affairs for South Sudan and Sudan delivered the message in the capital, Juba on Monday.

South Sudan, according to the country's minister for the presidency, Mayiik Ayiik Deng currently enjoys cordial relations, which binds the two Nile basin countries.

Deng said Kiir and the visiting diplomat discussed various issues of bilateral relations, including economic and commercial ties as well as regional and international matters and areas of cooperation in which the two countries can enhance ties for the mutual benefits of the two citizens. other issues discussed were the removal of obstacles to the flow of trade between the countries and work to increase investment opportunities in education, health, electricity, agriculture and power.

The Egyptian diplomat told reporters in Juba that he held a frank and cordial discussion with President Kiir on bilateral relations between the two countries.

The minister said a number of aeroplanes would come to South Sudan based on the instruction from the Egyptian president as part of its humanitarians support to the people of the young nation during the current political, economic and security situation.

He described as "historic" relations between the North African nation and South Sudan.

Egypt was one of the country's that officially recognised South Sudan's independence when the latter got its independence from Sudan in July 2011.

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June 12, 2017 (JUBA) - The South Sudan national dialogue committee, Monday has denied backing efforts aimed at blocking the return of the exiled rebel leader, Riek Machar, and preventing his participation in the political process.

The dialogue body in a statement released to the public described as misleading media reports claiming that Angelo Beda, co-chair of the dialogue committee was backing efforts aimed at denying the return of Machar to participate in the process.

The statement further claimed that the committee was exerting efforts to persuade President Kiir to allow the return of Machar as a normal citizen.

President Kiir and government officials say they prefer for the time being to keep the former first vice president in his forced exile and support the idea the main rebel group join the dialogue in order to make it inclusive and successful.

"The President does not intend to block Dr Riek Machar from participation in the National Dialogue since he has already welcomed the participation of Machar's delegation," said the statement pointing that the insistence of the rebel leader on the “Armed Resistance”, contradicts the basic principles of a peaceful dialogue.

"Thus, If Dr Machar is for peace and stability of the country, he can accept the proposal for non-violence and peaceful resolution of the conflict through a credible and transparent National Dialogue (ND) and such a gesture would be highly appreciated by everyone and therefore, he would be most welcome to participate in the ND," further reads the statement.

The SPLM-IO insists on the need to hold talks between the two main warring parties to reinvigorate the 2015 peace agreement and reactivate the security arrangements including the ceasefire. The presence of the SPLM-IO faction led by Taban Deng Gai in the transitional government seemingly represents an obstacle that Machar factions intends to clear before to go to the political process.

However, the committee explained that the national dialogue initiative is both a forum and process through which the people of South Sudan shall gather to address the root causes of their conflict, redefine the basis of their unity as it relates to nationhood, citizenship and belonging, as well as the restructure of the state institutions for national inclusion and stability.

The key objective is to end the conflict and usher a new era of sustainable peace, reconciliation and to prepare for a national election, the committee emphasised.

Angelo Beda, according to the statement, said that the declared unilateral ceasefire and the release of political prisoners by the President as well as other gestures of good will were significant positive steps taken to build confidence and create a conducive environment for the National Dialogue.

"In this respect, Dr Riek Machar is equally expected to take a gesture of goodwill by reviewing his earlier declaration of “armed resistance” made in Khartoum," it further stated.

The national dialogue, which was officially launched by President Kiir last month, is both a forum and process through which the people of South Sudan shall gather to address the root causes of their conflict, redefine the basis of their unity as it relates to nationhood, citizenship and belonging, as well as the restructure of the state institutions for national inclusion and stability.

Since mid-December 2013, tens of thousands of people have been killed and millions displaced in South Sudan's worst ever violence during its post-independence period.

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June 12, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - The Sudan Liberation Movement-Minni Minnawi (SLM-MM) Monday has released a report saying security and humanitarian situations are steadily worsening in Darfur and regretted that international reports do not reflect the situation on the ground.

The United Nations Security Council is set to discuss the situation in Darfur region this week and is expected to change the mandate of the hybrid peacekeeping operation to a peace-building force.

In a 50-page report covering a three-month period from December 15, 2016, to March 15, 2017, the SLM-Humanitarian Team collected "a wide range of information on the government's humanitarian violations, including patterns and frequency of the manifestation of violence against civilians" in the region.

The report further challenged the figures of human rights violations included in the UN reports on the same three month period and produced its own statics on the killing, rape abduction, looting, and displacement cases.

Among others, the SLM report says the death toll of civilians according to the UN report during the three month period has reached 84 people while the armed group claim that the human causalities are at 216 victims. Also, the SLM refutes the figure of rape cases given by the UN (181 cases) saying there were 279 rape and sexual assaults crimes.

The armed group continues to paint a gloomy picture of the humanitarian situation pointing to food shortage and deterioration in the humanitarian services to the displaced people. It further says this situation "represents a grave security threat".

The report denounces the lack of accountability for the perpetrators of war crimes, stressing that the impunity in Darfur "remains a major factor for the continuation of the cycle of violence against the civilians and seriously impacts the already catastrophic humanitarian situation".

The SLM-MM fighters clashed last month with the government forces in North and East Darfur. Khartoum said the rebels entered the region from South Sudan and Libya.

The African Union mediation has failed to bring the warring parties in the region to sign a cessation of hostilities agreement and to negotiate a lasting peace in Darfur.

The armed groups demand to open the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur (DDPD), but Khartoum rejects any attempt to change the framework agreement.

The SLM report accused the government of obstructing the AU-led efforts to sign a Cessation of Hostilities agreement (CoH) in August 2016.

"Defining the areas or location of forces of the parties, disagreement on the establishment of Joint Humanitarian Mechanism, the release of prisoners of war, and the status of Doha Document," were the main differences that hampered the signing of a humanitarian truce deal, according to the report.

" The fact is that government's intransigence on conditioning the Doha Document as the base for any political talks before concluding the CoH was the primary cause that torpedoed and prevented any progress".

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Click here to read the full text of the report: SLM Report on Security Situation and Peace Process in Darfur

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The United Nations envoy for the Central African Republic today warned against increasing attacks on civilians and peacekeeping personnel while stressing the need to reenergize the political process to achieve sustainable peace in the conflict-torn country.

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June 11, 2017 (JUBA) – South Sudan army (SPLA) on Sunday dismissed as unfounded reports alleging the military lost heavy weapons during recent clashes with the armed opposition forces in Upper Nile state.

Sudan Peoples Liberation Army (SPLA) soldiers singing pro-war song (AFP file photo)

The army spokesperson, Col. Santo Domic Chol said their forces have never confronted rebels ever since the president declared a unilateral ceasefire.

"All those reports in the social media are unfounded and baseless. The public should not rely on them. They are just part of propaganda by anti-peace elements. Our forces have not lost any weapons anywhere, let alone reports talking about losing tanks and other weapons,” Chol told the state-owned SSBC in a Sunday interview.

“It is not true and the public is advised not to rely on them [social media reports]", he added.

The military spokesman further stressed that the SPLA remains fully committed to respecting orders made by President Salva Kiir, but will only respond to aggression from rebels in self-defense.

Chol's response came in the wake of the armed opposition faction's claims that their fighters clashed with pro-government forces in the Upper Nile region and this reportedly resulted into their forces taking over a town, which was previously held by pro-government forces.

The rebels claimed they captured three tanks, two land cruisers mounted with 12.7 mm AA machine guns, 24 Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG-7) launchers, 30 PKM and over 300 AK-47 rifles in good condition.

Sudan Tribune could not, however, independently verify claims from rebels.

The rebels appealed to the international community to resuscitate the 2015 peace deal and free their leader from “unnecessary” confinement and detention in South Africa.

South Sudan has witnessed renewed clashes between forces loyal to South Sudan President Kiir and the armed opposition faction backing the country's former First Vice-President, Riek Machar in spite of the August 2015 peace deal.

The young nation has become the world's fastest growing refugee crisis with more than 1.8 million refugees, including one million children, having sought safety in Uganda, Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Central African Republic.

Last month, two United Nations agencies appealed to donors to step up support for people fleeing South Sudan as the $1.4 billion response plan remains 86% unfunded.

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June 10, 2017 (MALUALKON) - The Governor of Aweil East State has ordered that the recently sacked relief coordinator be placed under house arrest, despite being appointed by the national government.

Map detail showing South Sudan's border state of Northern Bahr el Ghazal

Deng Deng Akuei replaced Mawien Arol, who was appointed by South Sudan Relief and Rehabilitation Commission (SSRRC).

SSRRC is an independent national commission with an independent budget and constitutional mandate to recruit, hire and deploy its employees to different parts of the country to implement objectives for which it was established by an act of parliament.

The motive behind the decision of the governor, until now, remains unclear.

Local officials and area legislators, in series of interviews, told Sudan Tribune that the governor was infuriated by the national government's decision, which prevented him from making changes.

"They have been looking for me for the last two days. I don't know why. The governor has directed the security personnel to look for me. They went to my village in Manyiel and Peth, but they did not find me there. They then decided to call today and I told them where I am currently,” Arol told Sudan Tribune on Friday.

“When I they heard where I am, they said it is better you tell us where you are otherwise it will be rough if it is us going to look for you. So I told them the place and they came. Now I am with them. They are taking me to the detention. I do not know what I have done and I do not know the governor is treating me like this,” he added.

Akec Mel, another official who was removed from his position in the same institution claimed the governor replaced Arol with his relative and declined to the leadership of the relief and rehabilitation body, which deployed Arol to the state from Juba.

"What happened is that the governor last week said he had replaced Mawien Arol with his private secretary, Ngong Acuil Alor, who is his cousin and asked us to hand over the office,” said Mel.

"Because we did not want to be blamed by the headquarters for not letting them know, we forwarded this information to our offices in Juba and they wrote to him [the governor] saying his action undermines the independence of the commission,” he added.

Mel said he has since been detained with a colleague on the governor's orders.

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June 9, 2017 (KAMPALA) - The International Youth for Africa (IYA), a South Sudan-based human rights entity has strongly condemned the killing of civilians along Juba-Nimule road and urged the country's rebels and pro-government forces to desist from attacking civilians.

The wreckage of a bus on the Juba-Nimule road on 29 September 2014

Over 20 people were killed and dozens injured during the attack, which the armed opposition forces claimed to have carried out.

IYA's executive director, Ter Manyang Gatwich accused the armed opposition of violating the recently agreed upon unilateral ceasefire.

“IYA condemns [the attack] in strongest term possible. Those who claimed the responsibility need to be taken to the court. Both SPLM-IG and SPLM-IO committed a lot of human rights abuse this including arbitrary detention, torture, killing, forced and disappears,” he said.

The official, however, appealed to the country's two main warring factions to sort out their differences through a peaceful dialogue.

“A political agreement should be the first to stop the war and then followed by the national dialogue in the context of reconciliation, forgiveness and accountability,” further stressed Gatwich.

Any dialogue, he said, should involve the country's political parties and main stakeholders like church leaders, the youth, women and community leaders who are both within and outside the country.

Gatwich also urged regional leaders and the international community to put pressure on the country's leaders to end the war that has displaced millions.

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June 10, 2017 (EL-FASHER) - Government forces managed to kill two commanders from the Sudan Liberation Movement - Minni Minnawi (SLM-MM) during a recent military confrontation this week in North Darfur state, a military official said on Saturday.

"The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) last Thursday have killed Commander Khater Shata and Commander Adam Bakheit in a battle in Aru area, northeast of Ambro, North Darfur State, a military source told Sudan Tribune under the cover of anonymity because he is not authorised to speak to the media.

The RSF troops also "captured four rebels and seized four Toyota vehicles including three Land Cruisers and one Hilux," he further said.

Shatta is the SLM-MM's logistics and supply officer, while Adam Bakhit is the Movement's deputy commander for North Darfur operations.

A joint rebel force from the SLM-MM and SLM- Transitional Council fought the government troops in North and East Darfur in a series of attacks that began on 20 May 2017 in order to reach the mountainous area of Jebel Marra.

While the force that penetrated into East Darfur from South Sudan was quickly crushed, the rebels who reached North Darfur from Libya clashed first in Wadi Hawar and continued to move towards Jebel Marra before to be defeated by Ain Siro.

Since, the RSF and the army have launched pursuit operations to hunt those who fled Ain Siro battlefield.

The military source said the authority tracked the phones of fugitive rebels and determined their positions, adding it was the last group to escape after the battle of Ain Siro.

Following Ain Siro battle, government forces captured a number of rebel senior leaders, including the Chairman of the SLM- Transitional Council Nimir Abdel Rahman and the SLM-MM spokesperson Ahmed Mustafa Adarop.

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June 10, 2017 (WANYJOK) - The leadership of the Episcopal Church of Sudan and South Sudan has no Saturday officially inaugurated and installed the new bishop of Wanyjok, marking the spread and expansion of the Anglican faith in the country to areas predominantly Roman Catholic.

Bishop Joseph Mamer Manot, was on Saturday enthroned at a religious function attended by the Episcopal Bishop of Aweil, Abraham Yel Nhial and the new bishop of Nyamellel, Peter Garang.

The new Speaker of Aweil East state Santino Deng Deng Maluil also attended on behalf of the state administration. He appealed for unity and religious guide in service delivery.

He pointed out unity and collaboration between different institutions of the government and religious establishment was the only way through which peace and stability could be achieved.

Maluil told the gathering that South Sudan was a secular state without a control of the religious practice, emphasising the importance of separating politics from religion.

"We need to share a common vision and a common work to defend secularism and religious plurality, where no space should be left to ambiguity. As the government, we will work to promote peaceful coexistence and free choice of association.

He called for religious to find a balance between citizenship and religious coherence, away from bigotry and extremism.

Bahr el Ghazal region was initially predominantly Catholic Verona Fathers, in accordance with the colonial regulations, until 1942 when Anglican missionaries from the Christian Mission Service (CMS) arrived in Wau and established a school in 1950 at Gel River.

In 1988 Wau became a Diocese with the Rt Rev John Malou Ater being the first Bishop of Wau Diocese.

Today, with the increase in the population of an Episcopal congregation in the country, the church is growing tremendously from a few members scattered around the Western Bahr el Ghazal, Northern Bahr El Ghazal and the Warrap States.

Under the leadership of Bishop Moses Deng Bol, the church has established new dioceses including Aweil Diocese under Abraham Yel Nhial in Northern Bahr el Ghazal State with two more Area Dioceses of Wanyjok Area Diocese under Joseph Mamer Manot and Nyamlel Area Diocese under Peter Garang Akuei.

Abyei Diocese under Michael Deng Kutpiny, Gogrial Diocese under Abraham Ngor and Tonj Diocese under Peter Yuol Gur have been established.

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June 10, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - The secretary-General of the Popular Congress Party (PCP) Ali al-Haj Mohamed has rejected terror list issued by Saudi Arabia and its allies praising Qatar's support for Sudan.

Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani attends the 25th Arab Summit in Kuwait City, March 25, 2014 (REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed)

On Monday, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt and Bahrain severed ties with Qatar, saying Doha is harbouring a multitude of terrorist and sectarian groups that aim to create instability in the region.

The four nations on Friday issued a list of 59 individuals and 12 entities they say are linked to Qatar over terrorism. The list includes the Muslim Brotherhood's spiritual leader, Yousef Al-Qaradawi, and the 12 entities include the Qatari-funded charities Qatar Charity and Eid Charity.

Al-Haj, who addressed a meeting of his party's Shura Council in Khartoum Saturday, has criticised the list of terror issued by those countries, denouncing the criteria by which these persons and entities have been classified.

He stressed that he does not accept the designation of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) as a terrorist organisation, wondering “how can someone like Sheikh Yousef Al-Qaradawi be a terrorist.”

“We reject this classification, we don't beat the drums of war, despite the presence of its signals, and we confirm that we are in permanent contacts with all embassies and our single message to them is that what is happening is not in the interest of all of us,” he said.

The PCP is an Islamist group that shares strong ties with other Islamist groups in Egypt, Tunisia, Turkey and Yemen. Its former leader the late Hassan al-Turabi travelled regularly to Doha where he was received by the Qatari officials.

The PCP secretary general pointed to Sudan's participation in the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen, saying Khartoum would work alongside the Kuwaitis, Americans, Europeans and the others to resolve the crisis.

He added the PCP and the Sudanese people appreciate the significant role played by Qatar in Sudan's affairs, saying it is the only country that supported Sudan in the Darfur issue.

Al-Haj also pointed to the Qatari ruling family delegation that came to Sudan to offer condolences on the death of the PCP leader Hassan al-Turabi, saying these are historical stances that we mustn't forget.

In the wake of the crisis, Khartoum called for self-restraint and announced its support for Kuwait's efforts to prevent further deteriorations of the situation and engaged efforts to reach a compromise ending this crisis between the sisterly states.

However, in a debate on Wednesday on the Gulf crisis at the National Assembly, Sudanese MPs called on the government to voice its support to Qatar saying the tiny Gulf state supported Sudan politically and economically when the country faced an international isolation.

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June 10, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - The Sudanese government Saturday said differences within the rebel Sudan People's Liberation Movement/North (SPLM-N) would obstruct peace talks and exacerbate the suffering of residents of the Two Areas.

The Sudanese army has been fighting SPLM-N rebels in the Blue Nile and South Kordofan, also known as the Two Areas since 2011.

Sharp differences have emerged within the SPLM-N since last March when the Movement's deputy chairman Abdel-Aziz al-Hilu tendered his resignation and criticised SPLM-N's chairman Malik Agar and Secretary General Yasser Arman.

On Wednesday, the Nuba Mountains Liberation Council (NMLC), an SPLM-N regional body, decided to install al-Hilu as temporary chairman of the Movement, to relieve Agar from the leadership of the armed group together with Arman, and to prevent them from entering the SPLM-N controlled areas.

However, Agar rejected the move describing it as a “coup d'état if it succeeds will pave the way for other coups to come after”.

The semi-official Sudan Media Center (SMC) Saturday quoted the government's spokesperson Ahmed Bilal Osman as saying they are fully ready to resume peace talks after it has accepted the U.S. proposal to deliver humanitarian assistance to the affected in the Two Areas.

He pointed that the timeframe given by the African mediation to the SPLM-N is sufficient to resume the talks within the coming days; calling on the Movement to resolve its internal differences, which he said represent the greatest obstacle to achieve peace in the Two Areas.

The African Union is brokering peace talks between the Sudanese government and opposition including the armed groups in Darfur and the Two Areas. Last April, SPLM-N announced they agreed with the African Union chief mediator, Thabo Mbeki, to postpone peace talks to next July.

Osman further said the Movement continues to stick to its negative stance towards peace despite efforts exerted by the regional and international community, adding “the government is ready to resume negotiations at any time so that the people of the Two Areas could enjoy full security and stability”.

Talks between the government and the Movement for a cessation of hostilities and humanitarian access are stalled since last August. The SPLM-N demands to deliver 20% of the humanitarian assistance through a humanitarian corridor from Asosa, an Ethiopian border town.

But the government rejects the idea saying it is a breach of the state sovereignty and a manoeuvre from the rebels to bring arms and ammunition to their locked rebel-held areas in the Two Areas.

The SPLM-N last November declined an American proposal to transport humanitarian medical assistance directly to the civilians in the rebel-held areas in the Blue Nile and South Kordofan.

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