SPLM-N: USA, Sudan engagement valuable for peace talks

In a response to the developments in peace negotiations in Sudan, the Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North stated its position on the ceasefires, the Roadmap agreement to peace, and humanitarian access to the conflict areas of South Kordofan and Blue Nile.

The rebel movement presented a statement today, saying “The media of the Sudan regime is waging an intensive political propaganda campaign about the engagement between the U.S. Administration and the Sudan regime”.

Secretary-General  Arman said that “in-depth discussion” with the African Union mediators are required in the current “favourable environment” for the discussion on the Roadmap agreement. This peace roadmap has been signed by the Sudanese government while the opposition members wish to make additions to the agreement.

According to Arman, the United States may play an important role in engaging both parties to construct agreements.

Excerpts from the SPLM-N statement:

U.S. administration

“We have been informed officially by the U.S. Special Envoy to Sudan and South Sudan, as a member of the Sudan Call, about the recent engagement two weeks ago. We welcome the engagement between the U.S. Administration and the Sudan regime.

“We are looking forward for this engagement to impact positively on the humanitarian intervention and the political democratic transformation in Sudan as a key point to address the rest of the issues between Sudan and the outside world including terrorism and immigration.

“The U.S. Administration has engaged the Sudan regime for 27 years, but the Sudan regime’s practice is to buy time and to ignore the agenda of transformation and ending wars. This also needs to be taken into consideration.”

Peace roadmap

“There is now a favorable environment to reach an understanding between the Sudan Appeal and the AUHIP on the Roadmap, that will address the concerns of the Sudan Appeal and get the Roadmap signed. This requires frank and in-depth discussions between the Sudan Appeal and the AUHIP into which the SPLM-N, as a member of the Sudan Appeal, will play its constructive role. The engagement between the U.S. and the Sudan government can enhance this process.”

Humanitarian access

“(…) the SPLM-N is ready with or without the Roadmap to sit immediately with the Sudan government to reach a humanitarian plan in the Two Areas and a cessation of hostilities up to one year subject for renewal. We are equally ready to agree on unfiltered and unrestricted humanitarian access with multiple points, cross line and cross border, and for the cessation of hostilities to be holistic and to include Darfur on the other peace track.”

Unilateral ceasefire

“General Omar Al Bashir measured his unilateral ceasefire to be for four months, which is exactly the rainy season where his Janjaweed militia and army are unable to carry out military attacks. He ignored the cessation of hostilities declared earlier for six months by the Sudan Revolutionary Front. Nevertheless, after the failure of his dry season offensive in the Two Areas for 2016, the SPLM-N is ready to sit immediately to operationalise the cessation of hostilities and to create the necessary joint mechanism for it.

“The engagement between the U.S. and Sudan can add value to this process.”

National Dialogue

“The National Dialogue would not achieve its desired end result by co-opting the Sudan Call and the opposition into the 7+7 National Dialogue. It can only be fruitful by developing the current 7+7 National Dialogue into a new phase that will ensure its credibility and move it into a new nation building process.”

South Sudan

“Sudan can only help in supporting the cause of peace in South Sudan by transforming itself and therefore ending its intervention into the region. We believe that the transformation of Sudan will contribute to the stability of the whole region.”