‘SPLM-N will discuss AUHIP proposal’: Malik Agar

The chairman of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N), Malik Agar, commented on the first round of direct negotiations between the Sudanese government and the SPLM-N in Addis Ababa, in an interview with Radio Dabanga, of which the first part is published on Wednesday. Malik Agar, who is also chairman of the Sudan Revolutionary Front (SRF, an alliance of opposition forces), told Radio Dabanga that the “SPLM-N’s position was, and still is a comprehensive solution. A comprehensive solution is definitely the best for the Sudan crises. We are convinced that the armed conflicts in South Kordofan and the Blue Nile cannot be ended without solving all the crises in Sudan.” Agar noted that the Sudanese government is opposed to this view and “insists on limiting the negotiations to the two war-torn states only, so that it will be able to subdue each region separately”.  He described the Sudanese government’s position on South Kordofan and the Blue Nile during the negotiations as “void”.   According to Agar, “our historic responsibility requires from all of us to stop these wars, by seriously addressing the root causes of the problem. Only in this way we will be able to achieve a just and comprehensive peace. We have emphasised our conviction throughout the negotiations in Addis Ababa, and we continue to stress it in any future negotiations. Of course we need to talk about the specifics of each region, but the solution should be comprehensive for the whole of Sudan.” Agar disclosed that after the chairman of the African Union High-Level Implementation Panel (AUHIP), Thabo Mbeki, announced the suspension of the direct negotiations for ten days, the mediators presented them a position paper of eight pages with proposals concerning the three main negotiation issues, the humanitarian, political, and security arrangements. The ten-day suspension of the negotiations is meant to give the delegates the time to consult their leaders on the proposals.   Kadugli shelled Meanwhile, authorities of South Kordofan State announced that SPLM-N forces shelled its capital Kadugli with four Katyusha rockets on Monday, one day after the Addis Ababa negotiations collapsed. Adam El Faki, the South Kordofan Governor, said that the rockets landed outside Kadugli. He added that the Sudanese army will continue its “dry season” operations until the next round of negotiations, as “the rebels started the attack immediately after the adjournment of the negotiations”. “Preparations are underway to send new troops to the Blue Nile and South Kordofan.” The Defence State Minister, Yahya Mohamed Kheir, after inspecting the Khalid bin Waleed military camp in Khartoum State on Tuesday, said that the Sudanese army troops are ready to move to “the areas of operations”.Defence Minister, Abdel Rahim Mohamed Hussein, on Monday, accused the SPLM-N of obstructing the negotiations, and announced that “the Popular Defence Forces, the Sudan Armed Forces, and other regular forces, are ready to complete their mission against the enemies of peace”. File photo: Malik Agar, chairman of the SPLM-N and SRF (Tomo Kriznar)  Related: 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)