Dagalo lauds Kiir, SPLM-N for releasing detained nomads

October 12, 2022 (KHARTOUM) – The deputy head of Sudan’s Sovereign Council, Gen. Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo on Wednesday commended South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) for releasing nine cattle herders.

The headers had entered an SPLN-N territory without communicating to its leadership.

“We thank His Excellency the President of the Republic of South Sudan, Salva Kiir Mayardit, for his great efforts to release 9 Misseriya shepherds, who were detained by the SPLM-N,” Dagalo said in statement.

He added, “We also highly appreciate the response of the SPLM leadership in the north, to release the shepherds from detention and deport them to Juba, in preparation for their transfer to Khartoum. We also commend the families of the detainees who showed wisdom and patience throughout the period of detention of their children”.

Dagalo, popularly referred to as Hemeti, reiterated calls for the holdout group to engage in the peace process, saying it as the “only viable option to guarantee peace and security”.

“On this occasion, we renew calls to the leaders of non-signatory movements to engage in the peace process in order to preserve the security and stability of our country,” he said,

South Sudan’s adviser on security affairs, Tut Gatluak Manime also commended the leadership of the SPLM/A-North under the overall leadership of Adam Aziz Al-Hilu.

He urged Sudanese actors to resume talks, saying it was the only way to “return to constitutional order and a transitional path, with an empowered civilian-led government to steer the country through the transitional period and address the critical priorities.”

Manime said Kiir and his administration prefer inclusive dialogue for ending conflict.

He said favorable conditions must be created, including an end to violence, with firm commitment to phase out military action and current state of emergency in the country.

“We expect, in the coming period, to start an intensive phase of talks with the non-signatory groups. We anticipate that the stakeholders will participate in the spirit of peace and forgiveness,” stressed Manime.

The SPLM-N is one of the non-signatories of the Juba Peace Agreement, athough it signed a Declaration of Principles (DoP) to negotiate with the government of Sudan.

Since then, however, there have been no direct talks, albeit President Kiir, his administration and the African Union have been trying to mediate between the sides.

In 2020, Sudan’s former Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok and the SPLM-N faction leader, Abdel-Aziz Adam al-Hilu signed a DoP in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa.

The declaration, among other provisions, recognised that “The state shall not establish an official religion and that No citizen shall be discriminated against based on their religion.”

The two leaders also agreed to recognize and respect the country’s diversity. They recognized that Sudan is a multi-racial, multi-ethnic, multi-religious, and multi-cultural society. Full recognition and accommodation of these diversities must be affirmed”.

They agreed to establish informal negotiation workshops to resolve contentious issues such as the right to self-determination of all citizens. This process was interrupted by military action when they took power in 2021, stalling the process.

The SPLM-N now awaits a new civil government with which to negotiate the agreement.

(ST)