SPLM-N rebels meet African Union mediation over Sudan peace talks
June 3, 2012 (KHARTOUM) — Malik Aggar, leader of the rebel Sudan People’s Liberation Movement–North (SPLM-N) and its secretary general Yasir Arman held a meeting Sunday with the African Union mediation over the implementation of a peace road map requiring their participation.
But Khartoum refuses that a framework agreement the two parties signed on 28 June 2011 be the basis of negotiations as it is provided in the road map. The SPLM-N on the other side insists that the process should include its allies of Darfur rebel groups and to discuss the whole Sudanese problem.
Following the meeting Aggar and Arman refused to comment on the meeting. They only stated they met with the former President of Burundi Pierre Buyoya who is a member of the African high level panel to discuss the road map without elaborating.
Sources privy to the meeting told Sudan Tribune that the meeting tackled mainly the position of the rebel group which demands a comprehensive process and the access of international aid groups to the rebel held areas in Nuba Mountains and Blue Nile states.
Khartoum refuses to allow humanitarian access to the rebel held zones in the Nuba Mountains in South Kordofan asking the rebels to accept a ceasefire. Yasir Arman in an interview with the Sudan Tribune last month disclosed their readiness to accept the humanitarian ceasefire but the rebels did not yet make it formal.
The sources ruled out talks between the two sides under the auspices of the African Union mediation team but pointed out that Ethiopian prime minister Meles Zenawi is struggling to narrow the gaps between the two parties, as he has good contacts with the both sides.
Zenawi succeeded in August of 2011 to facilitate a meeting between President Omer al-Bashir and Malik Aggar in Khartoum. The latter arrived in the same airplane with the Ethiopian leader and left the Sudanese capital with him.
Sudanese defense minister, Abdel Rahim Hussein, leading a high level delegation will arrive Monday in Addis Ababa for a meeting with his South Sudanese counterpart to discuss security issues including rebel presences in the two states and the establishment of a buffer zone as well as a border monitoring mechanism.
South Sudanese defense minister John Kong Nyuon and his delegation are already in the Ethiopian capital.
Upon his arrival Abdel-Rahim will be briefed by the Sudanese negotiating team before to hold a meeting with his Nyuon in the afternoon in presence with the African Union mediation
A member of the Sudanese team to the talks in Addis Ababa, Mutrif Sidiq told the Sudanese radio that the meeting of the Joint Political and Security Mechanism will discuss the support of rebel groups, establishment of a buffer zone and joint committee to implement this agenda.
He further said Abyei committee will meet on Thursday to tackle issues related to the formation of Abyei Administration, legislative council, formation of the joint police force and return of displaced civilians.
(ST)