Mediation extends Sudan peace talks for one week

June 5, 2021 (JUBA) – The South Sudanese mediation extended for one week the negotiation for peace in the Blue Nile and South Kordofan between the Sudanese government and the SPLM-N al-Hilu.

Dhieu Matouk Rapporter of the Mediation told reporters in Juba on Saturday that the negotiations will continue until the 13th of June pointing to the need to “bringing views closer and addressing the outstanding issues”.

Matouk further said that the mediation held separate meetings with the two parties to identify the sticky issues that the parties failed to agree on it.

He stated that the two negotiating parties will resume discussions on the outstanding issues next Monday, 7th June.

The SPLM-N in a draft framework agreement filed to the government suggested replacing the political and judicial institution governing the transitional period. The government rejects these demands because they are part of the Constitutional Document.

The parties Have declined to make public their divergences but the SPLM-N in its position paper -seen by the Sudan Tribune- speaks about the formation of a presidential council including the head of regional authorities to replace the Transitional Sovereign Council and to restrict the role of the prime minister to oversee the performance of the executive body.

Within the idea of separating between the state and religion, the SPLM-N al-Hilu proposes to move the weekend day to Wednesday, cancelling the Zakat law and laws based on religion, and changing the school curriculum.

In 2017, al-Hilu established a new leadership of the SPLM-N after the removal of Malik Agar from the group’s leadership.

The spilt was motivated by Agar’s refusal to include self-determination in the agenda of peace talks with the former Islamist regime.

(ST)