Juba expects positive outcome in Sudan military- SPLM-N Al-Hilu talks
October 17, 2023 (JUBA)- South Sudan on Tuesday said it anticipates positive outcomes in talks involving the leadership of the Sudanese army and the armed opposition group operating under the banner of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N).
South Sudan’s presidential adviser on national security affairs, Tut Gatluak Manime said the military leadership had initially sought the involvement of President Salva Kiir to help persuade, Abdel Aziz Adam Al-Hilu, the leadership of the movement fighting and control a swathe of land in Nuba Mountain in South Kordofan state and Blue Nile states in Sudan.
“The military leadership took a commendable decision to approach their brothers in the SPLM-N under Abdel Aziz Adam Al-Hilu for talk. “They sought the involvement of the leaders in the region and his excellency president Salva Kiir Mayardit was one of the first contacts who welcomed the move,” explained Manime.
He added, “These talks are progressing and we are hoping for a positive outcome”.
The presidential aide did not, however, divulge more information regarding the talks.
Eritrea’s leader, Isaiah Efwerki his South Sudan counterpart hosted the Sudan Sovereign Council chairman, Abdel Fatah Al-Burhan for talks in August and September respectively.
Al-Burhan, high-profile sources earlier told Sudan Tribune, had asked President Kiir to help mediate talks with SPLM-N Al-Hilu while requesting the latter to stop fighting the army and rather join the military in the fight against the paramilitary Rapid Support Force (RSF).
The opposition leader, according to sources, had in principle accepted to talk and requested consultation with the organs of his group before starting direct negotiations.
The Sudan People’s Liberation Movement–North (SPLM-N) led by Abdalaziz Adam Al-Hilu was not a signatory to the October 2020 peace agreement signed in Juba but agreed to join the negotiations on its own separate peace track and on signing its own agreement. The group demanded the establishment of a secular state as a precondition for peace. The demand caused the negotiations to stall. It later signed a short agreement with the then Sudanese Prime Minister, Abdalla Hamdok in Addis Ababa on 3 September 2020, but the legal status of the agreement remains unclear.
Another group that did not sign the Juba peace agreement was The Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM) led by Abdel Wahid Mohamed Al-Nur who does not recognize the transitional government as legitimate because it contains a military component.
Al-Nur preferred participation in the negotiations with the civilian-led government. After the Juba Agreement entered into force, representatives of the SLM indicated readiness to negotiate a peace agreement with Sudan’s transitional authorities.
However, military activities interrupted the process, halting all the mediation efforts.
(ST)