Sudan’s foreign minister meets AU chief mediator over peace talks

October 24, 2015 (KHARTOUM) – Sudanese foreign minister Ibrahim Gahndour Saturday discussed with the head of the African Union mediation team Thabo Mbeki the ongoing preparation to resume peace talks to reach a peaceful settlement for the conflict in South Kordofan and Blue Nile states.

In a statement released by the Sudanese foreign ministry on Saturday evening, Khartoum announced that Ghandour met with Mbeki in Johannesburg and discussed with him the peace process with the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement – North (SPLM-N). to end the four-year conflict in the two states.

“The minister reiterated the government readiness for negotiating a peaceful settlement on the Two Areas” said foreign ministry spokesperson Ali al-Sadiq in a short statement released after the meeting.

Earlier this month, the two warring parties stated they will meet in Addis Ababa on two November where they are expected to discuss a declaration of principal including a cessation of hostilities agreement.

Al-Sadiq further said Ghandour briefed Mbeki about the start of the national dialogue conference and the activities of its different committees.

“The meeting discussed the needed steps for the inclusion of the armed groups in the process within the framework of guarantees announced by president Omer al-Bashir at the opening session of the national dialogue,” he said.

In a speech at the launch of the dialogue conference in Khartoum on 10 October, al-Bashir expressed willingness to develop the two-month cessation of hostilities declared last September in South Kordofan, Blue Nile into a permanent ceasefire given that rebel groups show desire for achieving peace.

Also, in September the president issued another decree granting general amnesty for the leaders and members of the armed movements taking part in the national dialogue conference.

In return, Khartoum refuses a roadmap by the African Union Peace and Security Council providing to implement a series of confidence building measures and to hold pre-dialogue meeting to discuss procedures related to the internal political process and the participation of rebel groups.

(ST)