A roundup of a few key stories from the past week on political issues in Sudan and South Sudan:

President of Sudan offers release of political detainees (Dabanga, 27 February 2015) - President Omar al-Bashir has demanded the apologies of the detained opposition figures Faroug Abu Eisa and Amin Mekki Madani for their violations of the criminal law, in exchange for their release.

NCP launches election campaign in West Kordofan (Radio Tamazuj, 27 February 2015) - Sudan’s ruling National Congress Party (NCP) has launched its campaign for the April elections in Babanusa town of West Kordofan State on Tuesday.

SPLM 'former detainees' will only return to Juba after peace deal (Radio Tamazuj, 26 February 2015) - SPLM-G10 member Oyai Deng Ajak told Radio Tamazuj that his faction will only return to Juba once a final peace deal is reached through the ongoing talks in Addis Ababa.

Peace talks begin in Addis without Kiir, political parties, AU report (Radio Tamazuj, 24 February 2015) - IGAD-led Peace talks between South Sudan's government and SPLA-IO rebels resumed in the Ethiopian capital Monday.

Protests in Sudan's capital after demonstrator dies (Dabanga, 24 February 2015) - A number of people were injured in a mass demonstration in El Sharaja district, southern Khartoum this morning.