Sudan: SPLM-N and Khartoum Begin Direct Negotiations in Addis Ababa
14 November 2014
Addis Ababa - The delegations of the Sudanese government and that of the
Sudan People Liberation Movement North (SPLM-N) appeared cautiously
optimistic in their first direct meeting on Thursday which occurred on the
second day of the seventh round of negotiations in Addis Ababa between the
two sides on the crisis in the border states of South Kordofan and Blue
Nile.
But in their position papers seen by Sudan Tribune, the two parties remained
in disagreement over whether the talks should be confined to issues related
to the two regions as the government insists, or also include items that
would address other crises in the country.
The spokesman for the SPLM-N delegation Mubarak Ardol said in a statement
that the warring parties met in face to face talks adding that the
atmosphere was positive.
Ardol added that their delegation tabled their view on how this negotiation
round should proceed and are now awaiting a response from the government
side.
SPLM-N POSITION
The SPLM-N position paper is proposing that the two sides endorse the
roadmap signed by the signatories of the Paris Declaration and the 7 +7
committee on one side and the African Union High Level Implementation Panel
(AUHIP) on the other end.
The negotiating sides would also express willingness to implement the
provisions of the African Union Peace and Security Council (AUPSC)
resolutions contained in the 456th meeting, according to the SPLM-N vision.
The rebel movement also called for a commitment by the two sides to address
the humanitarian situation through a cessation of hostilities agreement in
the two regions as part of a more comprehensive approach that would also
include Darfur and is negotiated under the auspices of the AUHIP as part of
a unified process for peace that would coordinate the two tracks.
Last October, the AUHIP invited the two sides to resume negotiations in the
Ethiopian capital on November 12th. It also extended a similar invitation to
Darfur rebels as well as the government to start negotiations on cessation
of hostilities on November 22nd in Addis Ababa.
The SPLM-N demands that the parties to the conflict participate in the
meeting related to roadmap and procedural issues in Addis Ababa that would
pave the way to a national constitutional dialogue with the participation of
all Sudanese forces which would take place in Khartoum.
The movement called for concluding a framework agreement with the government
that would address issues of the two regions in the context of a national
constitutional dialogue, as well as agreeing to postpone the elections until
a national transitional government is established that would organize the
vote as one outcome of the national constitutional dialogue process.
All parties would also agree to adhering to a specific timeframe to
implement provisions of the conference, the SPLM-N position paper states.
Sudan's general elections are set to be held in April 2015 but opposition
parties refuse to participate in it and propose forming a transitional
government and holding a national conference with the participation of rebel
groups to discuss a peaceful solution for the conflicts in Darfur region,
South Kordofan, and Blue Nile states.
On the other hand, the National Elections Commission (NEC) and the ruling
National Congress Party (NCP) reject any postponement to the electoral
process saying it would create a constitutional vacuum and cause chaos in
the country.
SUDANESE GOVERNMENT'S POSITION
The head of the government delegation Ibrahim Ghandour presented Khartoum's
negotiating position, which affirmed their commitment to the United Nations
Security Council (UNSC) resolution 2046 and the statement of the AUPSC
meeting on April 24, 2012 and their 23rd decision adopted at its 423rd
meeting.
He stressed that they will only negotiate on the two areas contrary to the
SPLM-N wishes.
He called for further negotiations using the same approach of the previous
round adding that national issues can only be discussed as part of the
ongoing national dialogue process.
The pro-government Ashorooq TV quoted Ghandour as expressing optimism on
achieving a breakthrough in the current round.
Ghandour said in remarks after the meeting with the SPLM-N that the spirit
of the meeting was positive and that the two sides presented a written
position paper.
He explained that the meeting was to review the previous positions with the
understanding that they should move forward with completing the framework
agreement adding they thoroughly discussed the process of comprehensive
ceasefire in the two regions.
The SPLM-N delegation spokesperson for his part described the meeting as
good but stressed their view that a holistic approach to Sudan conflicts
should be taken.
Yasser Arman, the SPLM-N Secretary General, reiterated this position during
meeting on Wednesday with US special envoy to Sudans Donald Booth.
The mediation has earlier stressed the need to reach an agreement that would
end the war and put an end to the suffering of citizens in South Kordofan
and Blue Nile and allows for the delivering of assistance to citizens in war
zones.
The Blue Nile and South Kordofan's conflict erupted months apart from each
other in 2011 when Sudan attempted to forcibly disarm SPLM-N fighters it
accuses of being backed by their brother-in-arms in the South Sudanese army.