Sudan rejects SPLM-N’s demand to discuss humanitarian issues

The presidential aide and chief negotiator rejected the rebel movement’s demand on Friday to focus on humanitarian issues in Darfur, Blue Nile, and South Kordofan during a new round of talks scheduled for 13 February. Khartoum recently accepted an agreement provided by the African Union (AU) and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees to negotiate with the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N). “We’re going to (Addis Ababa) for a solution for the root causes of the conflict and not to address its symptoms,” presidential assistant Ibrahim Ghandour stated to Sudan’s news agency (Suna) on Friday morning. Ghandour further stressed they “are only interested by what is established by the African Union High-Level Implementation Panel” (AUHIP). This confirmed that they will discuss political, humanitarian and security matters in line with its mandate and UN resolution 2046 (2012). The SPLM-N secretary-general, Yasir Arman, stated last month that they are ready to meet the government. “We want the end of humanitarian crisis in Darfur, Blue Nile and South Kordofan, and a comprehensive political solution with the participation of all political forces and civil society groups.” The rebels have refused separate talks to resolve the armed conflicts in the Darfur region and the two southern Sudan states, and demand an unified peace process. In April 2013, the SPLM-N demanded Khartoum to allow humanitarian access to the civilians affected by the conflict in the rebel held areas, but the parties failed to agree.File photo: Presidential assistant Ibrahim Ghandour (Suna)Sudan government ‘ready’ to negotiate with rebels (15 November 2013)