Malik Agar, chairman of both the SPLM-N rebel faction and its umbrella group the Sudan Revolutionary Front (SRF), says that the movement is ready for talks with the Sudanese government in Addis Ababa.
“Our delegation (SPLM-N) is ready for the talks,” said Agar, adding that they want first to discuss cessation of hostilities and humanitarian access issues.
The talks are expected to begin this coming Wednesday, and Sudan’s government has already confirmed its attendance at the negotiations, according to an announcement made last week by the Sudanese Foreign Minister Ali Karti.
In an interview with Radio Tamazuj broadcast on Monday morning, the SPLM-N chairman pointed to the need to stop the war in Sudan and provide humanitarian assistance to those affected by conflict in Blue Nile, Darfur and South Kordofan.
Sudanese officials have called for the talks to address the situation comprehensively including the most important political issues. But Agar contended the political issues need first to be separated from humanitarian issues.
“The political issues could take months or it could take years, but the humanitarian issues are urgent and needs a solution because there are people who need food and medicine,” he said.
But he nonetheless affirmed the SPLM-N position of calling for involvement of all Sudanese political forces in the negotiating process until there is a comprehensive solution to the country’s problems.
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Sudan pledges to return to talks on South Kordofan and Blue Nile conflicts (27 Jan.)