Talks on cessation of hostilities in Sudan to be held on 18 to 19 November: AU

November 10, 2015 (KHARTOUM) – The African Union (AU) has officially announced that talks on security arrangements between the Sudanese government and the rebel groups in Blue Nile and South Kordofan states and Darfur region will be held on 18 to 19 November.

The head of the AU Liaison Office in Sudan, Mahmoud Kane, told the pro-government Sudan Media Center (SMC) Tuesday that invitations have been handed over to Sudan’s foreign minister Ibrahim Ghandour and the leaders of the armed movements.

He added the discussions on a cessation of hostilities in Darfur, and the Two Areas will be held separately between the government and Darfur rebels on one side and the government and the rebel Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/North (SPLM-N) on the other side on 18 and 19 November.

The foreign minister Ibrahim Ghandour is expected to lead the government delegation, while Yasir Arman will head the SPLM-N delegation. Ahmed Tugud is expected to lead the joint delegation of the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) and Sudan Liberation Movement -Minni Minnawi (SLM-MM).

The Sudanese army and its allied militias have been fighting a group of armed movements in Darfur since 2003.

Also, the border states of South Kordofan and Blue Nile state have been the scene of a violent conflict since 2011 when fighting broke out between the SPLM-N and Sudanese army.

Nine rounds of talks between the two sides have stalled over issues pertaining to the security, humanitarian and political arrangements.

(ST)

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