On Thursday, the first session of talks aimed at delivering humanitarian aid commenced in Juba, the capital of South Sudan, between Sudan’s military-led government and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-North), led by Abdelaziz Adam al-Hilu.
Mediated by the South Sudanese government, these sessions seek to reach a ceasefire agreement that would allow humanitarian assistance to be delivered to SPLM-North-controlled areas in the Blue Nile and South Kordofan states, as well as their western regions.
The Sudanese government’s delegation is headed by Defense Minister Major General Ibrahim Yassin, while the SPLM-North delegation is led by the movement’s Secretary-General, Ammar Amoun. The mediation committee is chaired by Tut Gatluak, the Security Advisor to the President of South Sudan.
In his address, Tut Gatluak highlighted previous agreements between the Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Sudanese Armed Forces, Lieutenant General Shams al-Din Kabbashi, and SPLM-North leader Abdelaziz Adam al-Hilu, which led to the convening of these sessions.
Gatluak expressed the satisfaction of the South Sudanese government and people with the progress in peace discussions and the improved delivery of aid to Sudanese citizens. He also mentioned that President Salva Kiir has ordered the borders to be opened for Sudanese citizens without requiring entry procedures.
Ammar Amoun, head of the SPLM-North delegation, stated that the session’s goal is to negotiate a ceasefire agreement to allow the delivery of humanitarian aid to those affected by the conflict in SPLM-North-controlled areas. He emphasized the urgent need to deliver humanitarian and medical supplies to these communities.
“We are here today to launch a negotiation session to sign a document that facilitates the delivery of humanitarian assistance to the needy people,” he said.
Sudan’s Defense Minister Ibrahim Yassin revealed that these sessions are a positive response from the SPLM-North to a Sudanese government initiative aimed at reaching a ceasefire agreement to facilitate aid delivery to conflict areas. He noted that the commencement of the sessions is the result of a previous meeting held on May 4 between al-Hilu and Kabbashi.
Yassin Ibrahim Yassin, Sudan’s minister of defense and head of the government’s technical team, said the delivery of urgent humanitarian assistance is contingent on all warring parties ceasing hostilities.
“We need a cessation of hostilities to deliver humanitarian assistance and alleviate the humanitarian crisis in conflict-affected areas, both in government-controlled and opposition-controlled areas,” Ibrahim said.
In October 2020, the SPLM-N refused to sign the peace deal between the Sudanese government and five other armed movements in Juba, demanding a democratic and secular state.