A roundup of a few key stories last week on political issues in Sudan and South Sudan:
South Sudan peace talks postponed (Radio Tamazuj, 23 June 2014) — Negotiations for peace in South Sudan have been adjourned after the SPLM/A-in-Opposition of Riek Machar continued to boycott a new round of talks in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia.
Former South Sudan political detainee joins rebels (Sudan Tribune, 29 June 2014) — A group of former South Sudanese political detainees announced on Saturday that one of their colleagues had joined the rebel Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) in Opposition under the leadership of former vice-president, Riek Machar.
Political parties reject Kiir’s ‘red line’ (Radio Tamazuj, 26 June 2014) — Leaders of South Sudanese political parties at a press conference on Thursday urged two warring factions of the SPLM/A to return to peace talks in Addis Ababa, while a number of parties’ representatives also rejected the ‘red line’ declared by President Salva Kiir over his own position as president.
Journalists rally for press freedom in Khartoum (Radio Tamazuj, 26 June 2014) — The Sudanese Journalists’ Network (SJN) organised a sit-in on Thursday, demanding the release of El Jareeda newspaper’s correspondent in West Kordofan, who was detained by security forces in En Nahud more than two weeks ago.
South Sudan defense minister denies resignation (Radio Tamazuj, 23 June 2014) — Kuol Manyang Juuk, the Minister of Defense of South Sudan, denies he has submitted his resignation to Salva Kiir on Friday.