Council of Ministers grants WFP access to Sudan’s Nuba Mountains

At a session today in Khartoum, Sudan’s Council of Ministers granted permission for the World Food Programme (WFP) to visit Kauda in South Kordofan for the first time in eight years. The Council was also briefed on the state of peace negotiations with the armed movements, and adopted a decision to review the substantial bonuses paid to directors of government companies.

In a press conference after the meeting, Sudan’s Minister of Culture and Information, Feisal Mohamed Saleh, announced that the Council of Ministers granted permission to WFP Executive Director, David Beasley, to visit Kauda in the Nuba Mountains of South Kordofan.

He said the measure comes within the framework of facilitating the delivery of humanitarian aid to all citizens in all areas of Sudan.

The area of Kauda is controlled by the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North faction under the leadership of Abdelaziz El Hilu.

Four axes

Saleh said that the Council stressed the need for the relevant ministers to work on the four axes to reach peace, namely governance and management, security arrangements, legislation and laws, and economic and social development. The Ministers are to prepare working papers, plans and proposals, to enter the practical points in the upcoming negotiation sessions.

Juba negotiations

Ambassador Omar Manis, who participated in the negotiation sessions with the armed movements in Juba, briefed the Council members, who praised the strong political will of all parties and unbridled desire to reach a lasting and rapid peace.

Saleh said the government is preparing plans for the rehabilitation of war zones, including development, services and infrastructure, and resettlement of displaced people and refugees. These are to be implemented immediately after the signing of peace agreements.

Directors’ bonuses to be reviewed

The Council also decided today to review the bonuses received by the members of boards of directors of government companies, pointing out that the bonuses are huge amounts that drain state coffers.

He said that two Ministers have returned the bonuses they received to the state treasury.

He said that the Ministry of Finance announced procedural steps to address the bread crisis soon, and activate the law on consumer protection so that it controls the markets.