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AU mediation rejects conducting new talks on road-map deal with Sudanese rivals

Xinhua, June 24, 2016 Adjust font size:

The African Union High-Level Implementation Panel on Sudan (AUHIP) has refused to conduct any new talks between the Sudanese rivals on its proposed road-map agreement, Sudan tribune reported Thursday.

Last March, the AUHIP proposed a road-map agreement for the Sudanese rivals, stipulating arrangements related to cease-fire at South Kordofan, Blue Nile and Darfur regions, entering a peace process and involving the armed movements in the national dialogue currently convened in Khartoum.

The Sudanese government unilaterally signed the road-map agreement, while the rebel Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM)/northern sector, the Darfur rebel Justice and Equality Movement (JEM), the Sudan Liberation Movement (SLA)/Minni Minnawi faction and the opposition National Umma Party, led by Siddiq Al-Mahdi, refused to sign the deal.

The AUHIP, as a facilitator, will not sign any memoranda of understanding with any Sudanese party, Sudan tribune quoted head of the AUHIP Thabo Mbeki as saying.

Mbeki added that any new talks related to the road-map must be between the parties and not with the AUHIP, the report said.

Last week, the opposition (Sudan Call), an alliance bringing together Sudanese armed groups and opposition parties, concluded meetings at the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa and proposed a supplemental document to the African Union mediation to endorse it to ensure that the Roadmap becomes a gateway to an equal, serious and fruitful dialogue with the inclusion of all opposition forces.

According to the report, Mbeki said that the AUHIP has referred the alliance's demand to the Sudanese government and asked for their respond.

Earlier, the Sudanese government rejected the supplemental document for the road-map, which was proposed by the opposition forces.

The Sudan Call alliance, in their proposed supplemental document, demanded holding of a preparatory dialogue meeting, allowing public freedoms and releasing the political detainees.

The Darfur armed groups and the SPLM/northern sector insist that a preparatory conference be held, according to decisions by the AU Peace and Security Council and the UN Security Council, to bring together all the Sudanese political forces to agree on procedures to initiate an equitable dialogue with the government, a demand that the Sudanese government rejects. Endit