Troika countries call for resumption of peace talks and release of political detainees

December 24, 2014 (KHARTUOM) – The Troika countries, Norway, the United Kingdom, and the United States called on the Sudanese warring parties to resume peace talks and urged the release of political detainees.

In a statement released on Tuesday the Troika praised the efforts of African Union High-Level Implementation Panel (AUHIP) to end war in Sudan and support the national dialogue process which aims to achieve democratic transition in the country.

They said that the AUHIP brokered “one process, two tracks” mediation presents the best opportunity to secure synchronised cessations of hostilities agreements in Darfur and the Two Areas, adding that it should pave the way for an inclusive and comprehensive dialogue in the east African nation.

“It is therefore deeply disappointing that the recent peace talks in Addis Ababa ended without agreement. We call on all parties to return to the talks in January 2015 with a mandate to achieve peace. In the absence of progress, the situation in Darfur and the Two Areas continues to deteriorate”.

The Sudanese government and SPLM-N delegations are expected to resume talks next January in Addis Ababa over a framework agreement.

The AUHIP suspended that the talks earlier this month as the two parties failed to reach a common ground on who to engage discussions.

The government said the talks should be limited to the Two Areas while the rebels demanded that talks include ways to link between the peace talks and the constitutional conference where the opposition parties shall participate.

The mediation also faced similar deadlocks, in Darfur tack. The rebels demand to discuss matters the government considers as closed cases saying they are already dealt in the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur (DDPD).

CALL TO RELEASE OPPOSITION LEADERS

The Troika said “deeply concerned” by the arrest of the opposition leader Farouk Abu Issa and the prominent human rights defender Amin Mekki Madani saying “These actions run counter to the aims of a comprehensive and inclusive National Dialogue”.

Abu Issa and Madani have been arrested since the 6 of December following the of the “Sudan Call” with the rebel Sudanese Revolutionary Front (SRF) and the opposition National Umma Party (NUP).

“We call on the Government of Sudan to immediately release those that have been detained and create a climate conducive to a genuine National Dialogue,” concludes the joint statement.

Abu Issa who suffers chronic illnesses was transferred on Tuesday from Kober prison to a police hospital following deterioration of his health condition.

(ST)