Negotiations between the Sudanese government and rebel SPLM-N delegation in Addis Ababa were stalled this week by differences over procedural issues for how to continue with the talks, according to sources involved in the negotiations.

The two sides have been discussing a possible framework agreement, which would then serve as a basis for further discussion. They have disagreed on how to approach the discussion, however.

SPLM-N has been battling the government since 2011 in the Nuba Mountains and southern Blue Nile. The two sides have different visions for how to govern the country and have both threatened to carry on armed struggle against the other should negotiations fail.

Ibrahim Ghandour, the head of the Sudanese government delegation at the peace negotiations, told reporters in Addis Ababa that after focusing on the framework agreement, his delegation was approached by the SPLM-N on Monday who informed them that what they were discussing was not a framework agreement but rather a proposal for a framework agreement. 

He explained, “After vigorous work we were surprised today by the SPLM-N delegation who pointed out that what we were discussing was not a framework agreement but rather a proposal to reach a framework agreement.”

“So our reply was that this was a waste of time since what we are discussing with these details leads us to a framework agreement so why do we not negotiate (directly) on the framework agreement,” said Ghandour.

He further noted that the two parties already agreed to discuss a framework agreement, according to the 18 February mediation proposal, which was accepted by SPLM-N.

Accordingly, he announced that the two parties have fallen back to square one in the negotiations. Asked whether the government delegation would leave the talks, he said his delegation would never leave the talks unless the mediation told them to do so.

Speaking to Radio Tamazuj, SPLM-N spokesman Mubarak Ardol said that the mediation has made an effort to push the two sides to reach a peace agreement, but they were not making progress, explaining there were differences on how to proceed.

He said the SPLM-N wanted first to have a framework agreement and then form negotiating committees on the basis of that agreement, but the Sudanese government wanted to skip this stage and immediately form negotiating committees.

In a related development, the head of Reform Now Party Dr. Ghazi Salah El-Din has left the negotiations back to Khartoum. Before leaving he said in a press statement that procedural issues were hindering the negotiations process.

Ghazi emphasized that that military solutions were unacceptable and that the two sides must reach a peace agreement.

Photo: Negotiators at the talks in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (Radio Tamazuj)

Related coverage:

Politics: Ghazi meets SPLM-N at Addis talks (27 Apr.)

Sudan: Parties disagree on format for ‘Two Areas’ talks (25 Apr.)