Sudan gov’t accuses AUHIP of backing SPLM-N position
November 20, 2015 (ADDIS ABABA) – Sudanese government negotiating delegation Friday has accused the African Union High mediation of endorsing the position of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in the negotiations.
Mbeki further said that these agreements should pave the ways for a pre-dialogue meeting to ensure the participation of the holdout opposition groups in the national dialogue conference inside the country.
However the spokesperson of the Sudanese government delegation Hussein Hamdi told reporters that the draft agreement submitted by the mediation team ignored the outcome of the previous rounds of talks and only speaks about the two points.
“The government delegation came with the specific aim which is the final settlement of the issue in South Kordofan and the Blue Nile states. We want to resume discussions on the framework document that the two parties agreed in the previous rounds in order to complete and approve it. Then we engage in practical measures to implement the terms of the document,” Hamdi said.
“In its form and content the AUHIP’ proposal expresses the position o the SPLM-N but we will study it and will present and defend our point of view when we discuss it with the mediation,” he further stressed.
The government delegation spokesperson further said the agenda prepared by the mediation for include only the cession of hostilities in order to participate in the national dialogue.
Since the eruption of the armed conflict between the government and the SPLM-N in June 2011, the Sudanese government insists on the need to reach a final ceasefire agreement and to disarm the SPLA-N fighters.
Hamdi said the government’s position paper stresses that the discussions of security arrangements should be comprehensive in the sense that it begins with a cessation of hostilities and passes to the full cease-fire and ends with the full security arrangements for both sides.
He disclosed that the government delegation presented its position in a joint meeting with the SPLM-N and proposed to discuss separately the s issues of South Kordofan and Blue Nile states.
SPLM-N SAYS SURPRISED
From his side, the SPLM-N spokesperson Mubarak Ardol issued a short statement saying are surprised by the government delegation announcing with an “unenviable frankness” they didn’t come with a mandate enabling them to discuss the issues pertaining to the national dialogue.
“Perhaps the only mandate the delegation has is to attack the SPLM-N and the African mediation,” Ardol said, and wondered for what reason of their coming from Khartoum if they are not mandated enough for such matter.
The SPLM-N spokesperson said they will comment on the government position at the right time. He reiterated they came here with an open mind and heart to the talks .
“And we are fully ready to cooperate for the implementation of positive programs of the African mechanism to reach a cessation of hostilities paving the way for humanitarian aid. The civilian population it is our first priority. Also that creates suitable atmosphere for equal national constitutional dialogue process,” he said.
The AU mediators were not available for comment.
Sudanese government last March refused an invitation by the AUHIP to participate in a preparatory meeting for the national dialogue and blamed the mediators for not consulting with them on who can take part in the gathering.
(ST)