Troika countries call for commitment to Sudan peace process

November 11, 2014 (KHARTOUM) – Ahead of the talks between the Sudanese government and Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North on (SPLM-N) a cessation of hostilities, the Troika countries urged the parties to show commitment to the peace process.

On Wednesday 12 November, the two warring parties in South Kordofan and Blue Nile will discuss a truce paving the way for the latter’s participation the national dialogue process in Khartoum. Similar talks should start within 10 days between the government and Darfur rebels.

These talks brokered by the African Union High-Level Implementation Panel (AUHIP) come in line with a plan endorsed on 12 September by the Peace and Security Council of the African Union aiming to facilitate the participation of the rebel groups in an internal comprehensive process for peace and democratic reforms.

“We strongly urge the parties to the conflicts to show their commitment to peace by coming to Addis Ababa this month prepared to engage substantively on the issues identified by African Union Peace and Security Council in September,” said a statement released on Tuesday, the Troika countries, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Norway.

The three Western backers of peace in Sudan further said alarmed by statements of government officials about plans for new offensives on rebel positions and the increase of air attacks in South Kordofan and Blue Nile.

Instead they underlined military attacks will increase the suffering of the affected civilians in the war zone and called to build confidence and create an environment conducive to dialogue.

“We urge all parties to cease such harmful actions and inflammatory rhetoric. We urge the parties to seize this opportunity and build a truly comprehensive process for national dialogue and a sustainable peace,” the Troika said.

The peace plan endorsed by the African peace body provides that a national meeting to be held at the AU headquarters should follow to agree on the modalities of the internal process. Also, this truce should pave the way for humanitarian access to the civilians in rebel-controlled areas.

The national dialogue committee will travel to Addis Ababa this month to meet the rebel groups members of the Sudanese Revolutionary Front (SRF) to brief them about the steps agreed in this regard, particularly a roadmap endorsed by the dialogue forces on 9 August.

The national dialogue subcommittee for external relations met the rebels for the first time last September and signed an agreement on the national dialogue and constitutional process with the AUHIP on 4 September.

(ST)