A roundup of a few key stories from the past week on political issues in Sudan and South Sudan:
Akot Deng denies accusations he attempted Aweil coup (Radio Tamazuj, 6 February 2015) – Northern Bahr al Ghazal Police Commissioner General Akot Deng Akot has dismissed accusations he attempted a coup when he deployed his men in state capital Aweil after allegedly revealing intentions to become governor.
Sudanese diplomat says Abyei Area not included in April elections (Radio Tamazuj, 4 February 2015) – Sudan’s Deputy Ambassador in Juba Magdi Mofadal said the contested area of Abyei will not be included in national and state constituencies for Sudan’s 2015 elections.
Equatorian governors say their federalism call is a “civic demand” (Radio Tamazuj, 2 February 2015) – The governors of South Sudan’s three Equatorian states say their call for federalism is a ‘civic demand,’ not an attempt to impose federalism on the country through a political agreement or decree.
S Sudan talks adjourn without power-sharing deal (Radio Tamazuj, 2 February 2015) – East African regional body IGAD adjourned direct negotiations between South Sudanese war leaders Salva Kiir and Riek Machar just after midnight last night at a ceremony at which both sides recommitted to an earlier cessation of hostilities agreement.
SPLM-Juba unwilling to accept Machar as “First” Vice President (Radio Tamazuj, 2 February 2015) – The party of South Sudan’s president Salva Kiir has refused to accept an IGAD compromise proposal by which Riek Machar would become “First Vice President” and the incumbent vice president James Wani would be retained as a second vice president.