Sudan’s chief negotiator with the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N), Prof. Ibrahim Ghandour announced that his team has received a message from the African Union High Implementation Panel on Sudan (AUHIP) on the possibility of peace negotiations with the rebel group.

In his remarks to media in Khartoum, Ghandour confirmed his government’s readiness to discuss peace for the South Kordofan and Blue Nile States. Bringing about peace in the two war-torn states has been acknowledged by the Executive and the National Legislatures, as well as by the Shura Council of the ruling National Congress Party (NCP).

The NCPs leading figure said that he has requested AUHIP's chaorperson, Thabo Mbeki, to schedule exact dates for the negotiations, which will take place under the auspices of the African Union High Implementation Panel.

The SPLM-N, however, vehemently dismissed news on planned peace negotiations between the Sudanese government and the Movement on the Blue Nile and South Kordofan States.

Spokesperson for the SPLM-N negotiating team, Zeinab Mahmoud, told Radio Tamazuj that they have not been informed by Thabo Mbeki about any prospects ofnegotiations with the Khartoum regime these days. “What I know so far is that we previously talked on cessation of hostilities in the two volatile areas to allow and facilitate a smooth polio vaccination campaign in the rebel-controlled areas, but the government rejected it,” she said.

Mahmoud reaffirmed the SPLA-N did not receive any telephone call or message from the African mediators about peace negotiations with the Sudanese government.

File photo: Prof. Ibrahim Ghandour (Radio Tamazuj)

Related:

South Kordofan fighting displaces 1,300 people: UN (23 November 2013)

UN: 2000 Blue Nile refugees flee to South Sudan (23 November 2013)

HAC promises new polio vaccination date (23 November 2013)

UN: Polio vaccination campaign in Sudan has failed (12 November 2013)