Sudan appoints South Sudan President Salva Kiir to mediate in Two Areas of South Kordofan, Blue Nile

The Sudanese government has announced the appointment as mediator of President Salva Kiir of South Sudan to settle the dispute in South Kordofan and Blue Nile and to unify the military and political factions of the movement to achieve peace in the Two Areas.

The Assistant to Sudanese President Omar Al Bashir, Feisal Hasan, reiterated the commitment of the government delegation to conduct political negotiations simultaneously with the issue of humanitarian assistance and security arrangements, and expected the resumption of negotiations in December.

He said in a statement after a meeting with media that peace and stability in the two regions is a strategic goal for the government.

The SPLM-North under leadership of Malik Agar (SPLM-N-MA) welcomed the initiative of President Salva Kiir and the government of South Sudan to unify the movement and reach a comprehensive solution to the wars in Sudan.

SPLM-N delegation in Juba

A high-level delegation from the SPLM-N faction leadership arrived in Juba and started consultations with the competent authorities.

The movement said in a statement that the efforts of the initiative reinforce the efforts of the African Union and the international community, which deserve their support.

The statement said a comprehensive solution to the conflict in Sudan would contribute positively to the stability of the two countries, especially as the wars in Sudan are going along the common border between the two countries.

SPLM-N Agar spokesperson Mubarak Ardol said: “The SPLM North unity is a strategic issue above the positions and jobs and we are ready to give the leadership to a new generation to unify the movement, while the current senior leadership can play an advisory role”.

SPLM-N El Hilu faction

As previously reported by Radio Dabanga, the meeting between the Sudanese government and the other faction of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North led by Abdelaziz El Hilu (SPLM-N) over the resumption of peace negotiations concluded without significant progress on Thursday.

The rebel faction and the Sudanese government were invited to several days of consultations in Addis Ababa and Johannesburg in October under the chairmanship of the African Union High-level Implementation Panel (AUHIP).

During these meetings, the AUHIP and the government proposed to agree on three documents: the draft framework agreement for 2014, the draft agreement on the cessation of hostilities for humanitarian purposes, and the Roadmap agreement of 2016.