African mediation to call for meeting on S. Kordofan, B. Nile conflict: SPLM-N
November 30, 2013 (KHARTOUM) – The Sudan People’s Liberation Movement North (SPLM-N) on Saturday said the African Union mediation would call to resume talks in December on the conflict of South Kordofan and Blue Nile, expressing its commitment to comprehensive approach.
“It came to our attention from international parties that the (AUHIP) headed by the former South African president Thabo Mbeki will call the SPLM and the Sudanese government for a new round of negotiations in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 2046”, Arman said.
The talks will begin on 11 and will end on 15 of December, he further said.
The rebel leader said their priority in any discussions with the Sudanese government will remain the humanitarian situation in the rebel held areas in South Kordofan and Blue Nile states.
“The international community and the African Union have to realise that this regime uses the negotiating platforms for manoeuvring and public relations operations, he stressed.
Arman reiterated their call for a comprehensive process including all the rebel groups members of the Sudanese Revolutionary Front (SRF) emphasising that “the SPLM-N will only accept a comprehensive solution leading to (regime) change”.
A big rebel delegation including the leaders of all the SRF groups toured several European countries seeking the international support for holistic proces which should lead to a transitional government and general elections after the adoption of a new constitution.
Sudanese government officials recently announced their readiness to discuss a peaceful settlement for the conflict in the Two Areas but refuse the rebel demand for comprehensive talks.
The international community supports calls by the African Union for the two parties to engage discussions on the humanitarian and political issues in the two states.
The stalemate between the two parties prevented UN agencies from conducting a polio and a measles vaccination campaigns in the rebel controlled areas.
It is not clear if the mediation intends to dedicate the upcoming round of talks only to the vaccination campaigns or will include the issues of peace and war.
The UN agencies decried the failure of the two Sudanese parties to reach a cessation of hostilities enabling them to carry out the polio campaign initially scheduled for the 5th of November.
On 14 November, Sudanese humanitarian commissioner Suleiman Abdel-Rahman announced that a new polio vaccination campaign will be organised next December in the South Kordofan and Blue Nile states.
UN Security Council President for November, China’s Ambassador Liu Jieyi, told reporters on 11 November they are now considering ways to help ensure that the vaccination campaign goes ahead.
However it is not clear which can of action the 15-member body will take during the French presidency of the Council during the month of December. It is reported that the Sudanese foreign minister Ali Karti intended to visit Paris during the upcoming days.
(ST)