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ADDIS ABABA - 29 Apr 2013

‘Divergence of interests’ stalls SPLM-N negotiations with government

The negotiation process between the Sudanese government and rebel group, the SPLM-North, was suspended on Friday in Addis Ababa amidst claims of diverging interests.

The African Union, who mediate the process under the leadership of Thabo Mbeki, will invite both parties for a second round of talks in May.

Peace talks between the SPLM-N and the government only began last week but Adam Karshom, a member of the SPLM-N negotiating team, claimed that a divergence in positions was behind the process’ stall on Friday.

Khartoum was more concerned, Karshom alleged, with political rather than humanitarian issues.  However, the SPLM-N’s priority, he explained, is the opening of humanitarian corridors in order to allow aid organizations to deliver humanitarian assistance to those affected in South Kordofan and Blue Nile states.

Karshom claimed that, amongst other disagreements, the SPLM-N rejected Khartoum’s call for their disarmament within one month in exchange for allowing the delivery of humanitarian assistance to civilians in need in SPLM-N areas.

He also claimed that the government’s recognition of SPLM-N was a contributing factor as well as the level at which the conflict is being addressed nationally.

“Our disagreement is that those of NCP said they are ready to negotiate with us as citizens of the two regions of Blue Nile and South Kordofan, not as SPLM-N and this is one problem. The second thing is their point of view to the problem. We say that the problem actually is in the Khartoum system, so the issue of these two regions should be resolved at the national level. Because these two regions are part of the national system as when we made an agreement now the implementation will be from Khartoum and all things will be facilitated from Khartoum,” reported Karshom.

Meanwhile, in North Kordofan state, the Sudan Revolutionary Front, a rebel alliance, launched an attack on a key town in the state on Saturday.  This was later repelled by the government who have regained control.

Photo: Addis Ababa (Hansueli Krapf/ Wikipedia)

Related: Negotiations between Sudanese government and SPLM-N begin (24 April 2013)