A roundup of a few key stories from the last week on political issues in Sudan and South Sudan:
Kiir postpones first public address after failed peace talks (Radio Tamazuj, 13 March 2015) – President Salva Kiir postponed a public rally scheduled to take place Thursday morning in Juba at the John Garang Mausoleum.
President Bashir says Abyei is Sudanese territory (Radio Tamazuj, 13 March 2015) – Sudan’s President Omar Hassan al Bashir has pledged to link the contested area of Abyei between Sudan and South Sudan with a road network as well as the provision of basic services as soon as possible.
South Sudan’s PPLF parties welcome sanctions on war leaders (Radio Tamazuj, 12 March 2015) – The 18 South Sudanese political parties that form the loose opposition association known as ‘PPLF’ held a press conference in Juba today at which they welcomed international sanctions on warmongers and warned that the country will be in danger if left in the hands of war leaders Salva Kiir and Riek Machar.
South Sudan govt doesn’t want Troika in mediation (Radio Tamazuj, 12 March 2015) – The Minister of Information and Broadcasting and Government Spokesman Michael Makuei Lueth says that the government does not want the so-called ‘Troika’ countries of the United Kingdom, United States and Norway to be included in the mediation team for new peace talks.
South Sudan court sets 20 March for next hearing on legality of elections (Radio Tamazuj, 10 March 2015) – The Supreme Court of South Sudan in a hearing today set 20 March 2015 for the next sitting on a case brought by opposition political parties, after the government challenged the legality of the parties themselves.