Negotiations between Sudan’s government and SPLM-N begin Tuesday
April 22, 2013 (KHARTOUM) – Negotiations between the Sudanese government and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/North (SPLM-N) on the situation in South Kordofan and Blue Nile states will most likely begin on Tuesday in Addis Ababa.
Last month, Sudan’s defense minister, Abdel-Rahim Mohammed Hussein, confirmed Khartoum’s new position that it is “ready to negotiate with the SPLM-N” but only based on the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA).
Sudan has been strongly resisting regional and international pressure to negotiate with SPLM-N rebels calling its leaders “outlaws” and issuing arrest warrants for them.
The Secretary-General of the SPLM-N, and head of its negotiations team, Yasir Arman, will lead a delegation comprised of fifteen members to Addis Ababa, and will meet with the head of the African Union (AU) mediation team, Thabo Mbeki, prior to the start of negotiations.
Official spokesperson of the ruling National Congress Party (NCP), Yasir Youssef, said on Sunday that they are not concerned by the choice of Arman to lead the rebel delegation.
However he told reporters in Khartoum in Khartoum that the talks will be based on the protocol related to the Two Areas included in the CPA.
The Sudanese officials refused in the past the participation of Arman in the talks saying they want to negotiate with stakeholders from the two states to negotiate the implementation of the popular consultations and other outstanding issues.
They also accused Arman who is from northern Sudan of seeking to topple the regime and masterminding the establishment of an alliance between the SPLM-N and Darfur rebel groups.
The SPLM-N fought alongside the South during its protracted civil war with the north, with conflict flaring in 2011 between Khartoum and rebels fighting for the removal of the Arab-dominated regime.
Arman in a previous statements said they are ready to hold talks on a cessation of hostilities agreement and the humanitarian situation in the two states. The rebel group further demands a comprehensive process including Darfur rebel groups and opposition parties.
In statements to Sudan Tribune, SPLA-N’s spokesperson, Arnu Ngutulu Lodi, accused Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) of targeting civilian installations and using residents of the capital city of South Kordofan, Kadugli as human shields.
He said that SPLM-N will continue carrying out military operations despite the start of negotiations tomorrow, adding “At least we will take defensive positions against SAF’s attacks and aerial pounding of civilian targets across the state”.
In a related issue, the government’s delegation for negotiations with SPLM-N met yesterday with the presidential assistants, Jalal Al-Digair and Abdel-Rahman Al-Mahdi, to discuss their views and suggestions for negotiations.
The head of the negotiations’ delegation, told reporters that meetings with presidential assistants put forward some directives and suggestions for negotiations, stressing that the government is serious about reaching satisfactory solutions for all parties and the people of South Kordofan and Blue Nile states.
Ghandour further explained that his delegation will meet with President Omer Al- Bashir, and First Vice President Ali Osman Mohamed Taha, for approval of the negotiating team; stressing that negotiation would be under the umbrella of the African Union and without international interventions.
(ST)