Two Areas Talks: Sudan demands to deploy army on S. Sudan border: SDFG
November 30, 2015 (KHARTOUM) – Government negotiating team proposed to deploy Sudanese soldiers along the border with the South Sudan as part of the security arrangements with the rebel Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N), a report disclosed on Monday.
“The GoS’ (Government of Sudan) delegation also insisted on provisions which would see its forces deploy along international borders, particularly towards boarders with the Republic of South Sudan, behind the current lines held by the armed political movements in Darfur and the Two Areas,”.said a report released by Sudan Democracy First Group (SDFG).
The SDFG which had access to the different position papers by the parties to the talks further said that the government proposed one month period for cessation of hostilities, followed by a one month comprehensive ceasefire process involving disarmament and demobilization of the opposition armed forces.
The SPLM-N refused the proposition as they say the cessation of hostilities, which is part of the confidence building measures, should allow aid workers to reach the civilians in the conflict affected areas and pave the way for the national dialogue process.
The group also revealed that the Sudanese government delegation in the talks on Darfur, rejected two proposals filed by the Justice and Equality Movement and the Sudan Liberation Movement – Minni Minnawi. The two armed movements proposed to involve the African Union United Nations Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) in the monitoring of the truce, and an exchange of prisoners in the cessation of hostilities.
“It became apparent that the objective of the GoS was not to reach genuine agreement on cessation of hostilities but to achieve political, security, and military advantage through the process” says the report.
The head of the African Union High Level Implementation Panel (AUHIP) and chief mediator Thabo Mbeki suspended the process on 23 November, saying the parties have achieved progress in this round of talks.
Mbeki, who defends a holistic approach for conflicts in Sudan further announced that he would convene a preparatory meeting for the national dialogue on 7th December.
But it remains unclear how the pre-dialogue meeting can take place as the government says only can take part in the discussions the armed groups and the National Umma Party (NUP) of Sadiq al-Mahdi. The factions of the Sudanese Revolutionary Front, on the other hand, request an inclusive meeting with the participation of the opposition parties that refuse to join the internally organized dialogue process.
SDFG said the government delegations rejected the preparatory meeting and proposed “that all other issues relevant to the particularities of the three war regions (Darfur and Blue Nile and South Kordofan/Nuba Mountains) be addressed and resolved as a part of that dialogue”.
According to the advocacy group the government said the signing of the cessation of cessation agreement and humanitarian depends on the rebels’ acceptance to join the national dialogue process inside the country.
(ST)
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