Sudan, SPLM-N al-Hilu start peace talks on 25 May
April 5, 2021(KHARTOUM) – The peace talks between the government and the SPLM-N al-Hilu will resume on 25 May, said the chief mediator on Monday.
South Sudanese Presidential Advisor and Chief Mediator Tut Gatluak arrived in Khartoum on Monday for talks with the Sudanese officials after the signing of a declaration of principles entre the head of the Sovereign Council and the SPLM-N al-Hilu leader on 28 March.
Gatluak met with Abdel Fattah al-Burhan to discuss the implementation of the Juba peace agreement and the resumption of the talks with the holdout group.
“The first round of talks between the government and the SPLM-North delegations will be held on 25 May 25,” said Gatluak after his meeting with al-Burhan.
The 28 March deal was welcomed by the Sudanese political forces and the former armed groups. The framework agreement dealt with the two important issues: the relationship of the state and religion and the security arrangements.
Gatluak stated that the meeting with Burhan also discussed the implementation of the East Sudan peace agreement.
“It requires all the people of the East to sit down and hold a dialogue between them in order to reach an agreement that satisfies all components.”
He added that they discussed issues related to addressing some of the challenges facing the implementation of the peace deals in East and Central Sudan with regard to wealth sharing.
The leaders of the groups that took part in the Juba process now want to join the government and the Transition Partners Council like the other signatory groups.
But the government fears that their participation would trigger violence and exacerbate the situation in eastern Sudan as they face significant resistance from the tribal components there.
This week, the SLM-MM of Minni Minnawi slammed the slow pace of the implementation process and called to implement the costly security arrangements.
Also, the former rebel leader wants to be appointed as the head of the Darfur region authority.
(ST)