Peace talks between Sudan government and SPLM-N resume

12/11/2014 19:19

Peace negotiations between the Sudanese government and Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) on the conflict in South Kordofan and Blue Nile resumed in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa on Wednesday. This represents the eighth round in the talks, brokered by the African Union High-Level Implementation Panel (AUHIP) for Sudan. The previous round stalled in April, with both sides sticking to their considerably divergent positions. AUHIP chairman, former South African President Thabo Mbeki welcomed both parties back to the negotiating table: “As a panel, we are very grateful indeed that you responded to our invitation for this purpose and we are really hoping that it will be possible this time to finalise the negotiations in which both sides have been engaged for a few year. We are quite sure there are some matters on which all of us here agree… one of them is that in the interest of the people of the two areas, and indeed of Sudan as a whole, it is important and necessary and urgent that we end the conflict.” Citing reports of an outbreak of cholera, Mbeki also highlighted “the importance of ensuring the people of the two areas have access to whatever humanitarian assistance they might need.” In his opening address, the Sudan government’s chief negotiator Prof. Ibrahim Ghandour said that his delegation “have come here full of hope and determination to arrive at an agreement that would stop the bloodshed in our country, and pave the way towards achieving sustainable peace and development in Sudan”. SPLM-N chief negotiator Yasir Arman said that this round of talks “may be the last chance to salvage Sudan through a credible national constitutional conference”. Arman asserted: “In this round of talks there are two ways to go, there is no third way.” He said that the first way would involve “a collective answer as a basis of national consensus”, while the second way would “continue the war that witnessed genocide and led to the succession of South Sudan”. Arman said his delegation seeks “a comprehensive peaceful settlement and equal citizenship as inseparable elements to usher Sudan into a new era…” Main picture (above): AUHIP chairman, former South African President Thabo Mbeki Addis Ababa 12 November 2014) SPLM-N chief negotiator Yasir Arman Sudan government chief negotiator Prof. Ibrahim Ghandour Related: AU communiqué explains decisions on AUHIP for Sudan (16 September 2014) ‘Paris Declaration signatories to meet with AUHIP chairman’: Sudan’s Umma Party (21 August 2014) Resumed peace talks between Sudan government and SPLM-N collapse (24 April 2014) ‘Sudan government, SPLM-N to reach agreement by 30 April’: AUPSC (12 March 2014)Sudan committed to dialogue with SPLM-N: Al Bashir (25 February 2014)’SPLM-N will discuss AUHIP proposal’: Malik Agar (19 February 2014)Sudan government-SPLM-N negotiations suspended for ten days (18 February 2014)Negotiations between Sudan government and SPLM-N collapse (16 February 2014)SPLM-N road map for negotiations with Sudanese government (16 February 2014)

This represents the eighth round in the talks, brokered by the African Union High-Level Implementation Panel (AUHIP) for Sudan. The previous round stalled in April, with both sides sticking to their considerably divergent positions.

AUHIP chairman, former South African President Thabo Mbeki welcomed both parties back to the negotiating table: “As a panel, we are very grateful indeed that you responded to our invitation for this purpose and we are really hoping that it will be possible this time to finalise the negotiations in which both sides have been engaged for a few year. We are quite sure there are some matters on which all of us here agree… one of them is that in the interest of the people of the two areas, and indeed of Sudan as a whole, it is important and necessary and urgent that we end the conflict.”

Citing reports of an outbreak of cholera, Mbeki also highlighted “the importance of ensuring the people of the two areas have access to whatever humanitarian assistance they might need.”

In his opening address, the Sudan government’s chief negotiator Prof. Ibrahim Ghandour said that his delegation “have come here full of hope and determination to arrive at an agreement that would stop the bloodshed in our country, and pave the way towards achieving sustainable peace and development in Sudan”.

SPLM-N chief negotiator Yasir Arman said that this round of talks “may be the last chance to salvage Sudan through a credible national constitutional conference”. Arman asserted: “In this round of talks there are two ways to go, there is no third way.”

He said that the first way would involve “a collective answer as a basis of national consensus”, while the second way would “continue the war that witnessed genocide and led to the succession of South Sudan”.

Arman said his delegation seeks “a comprehensive peaceful settlement and equal citizenship as inseparable elements to usher Sudan into a new era…”

Main picture (above): AUHIP chairman, former South African President Thabo Mbeki Addis Ababa 12 November 2014)