SPLM-N al-Hilu casts doubt on Sudan’s seriousness towards peace

March 16, 2021 (KHARTOUM) – A leading member of the SPLM-N Abdel-Aziz al-Hilu slammed a recent statement by the government about the resumption of peace talks and described it as “false pledges.”

On February 28, the Council of Ministers announced the approval of a work programme for the second transitional government after the participation of armed movements, including the resumption of negotiations with the SPLM-North led by Abdel-Aziz al-Hilu.

“The cabinet has not contacted the Movement’s negotiating delegation until now,” said Mohamed Yousef al-Mustafa, an SPLM-N al-Hilu leading member in statements to the Sudan Tribune, on Tuesday.

Al-Mustafa further said the cabinet’s statement is “a form of obscurity, procrastination and false reassurance for those who want peace and expect a logical end to this abominable war”.

The Juba-brokered peace process with the SPLM-N al-Hilu stalled over the separation between the state and religion.

During a meeting held in November 2020, the military component in the Sovereign Council clearly rejected the outcome of a workshop between the two negotiating delegations.

However, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan earlier this month met with al-Hilu in Juba but both did not elaborate on the outcome of the meeting.

Al-Mustafa denied press reports about secret negotiations held in Khartoum between the government and the SPLM-N al-Hilu.

Also, he pointed out that Juba still the agreed venue for the negotiations, and there is no reason to transfer the process to Khartoum.

(ST)