Sudan says wouldn’t accept “new agenda” in Two Areas talks

[Elisabeth Janaina]

Sudan says wouldn’t accept “new agenda” in Two Areas talks

Article
Comments (2)

email Email
print Print
pdfSave
separation
increase
decrease
separation
separation

August 27, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - Sudan’s negotiating team has welcomed the
African mediation move to meet with Abdel-Aziz al-Hilu, leader of the
Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/North (SPLMN-al-Hilu) to resume
peace talks on the Two Areas.

JPEG - 15.2 kb
Abel Aziz al-Hilu (Reuters file photo)

The SPLM-N is now divided into two factions: one in the Nuba Mountains
led by al-Hilu and the other in the White Nile State led by Malik
Agar. The rift emerged several months ago over the right of
self-determination and other issues.

The head of the African Union office in Khartoum Mahmoud Kan said on
Wednesday that an expert-level meeting with the SPLM-N al-Hilu will be
held in Addis Ababa on 28 August.

The semi-official Sudan Media Center (SMC) Sunday quoted the member of
the government negotiating team Abdel-Rahman Abu Median as saying the
African mediation must state clearly to al-Hilu the negotiations
references and agenda.

He stressed the government wouldn’t allow the Movement to add any new
agenda, saying the two sides must adhere to what has been agreed upon
in the previous rounds.

Abu Median was alluding to al-Hilu’s demand for the self-determination
for South Kordofan and Blue Nile states.

On Saturday, the member of the government team Bushara Guma’a Aror
said the new reality indicates that the peace talks would be held with
al-Hilu, not Agar.

The Sudanese army has been fighting the Sudan People’s Liberation
Movement/North (SPLM-N) rebels in the Blue Nile and South Kordofan,
also known as the Two Areas since 2011.

(ST)