Sudanese government has accepted to hold direct political talks with the rebel Sudan people’s Liberation Movement North (SPLM-N) but demanded a delay before engage discussions, a Sudanese source said.
A dependable source in the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) said, consultations are going on between a leading member of the ruling party, the head of the African Union mediation Thabo Mbeki and the SPLM-N leader Malik Agar over the resumption of talks between the two parties.
He added that these contacts aim to hold direct political talks between the Sudanese government and the SPLM-N following the signing of agreement to implement the buffer zone and to resume the exportation of the South Sudanese oil.
The NCP official further said that Sudanese government intends to change the chief negotiator, Kamal Obeid, who chaired its negotiating team during last year indirect talks and demanded further delay .
However, SPLM-N Secretary General Yaisr Arman “categorically” dismissed such contacts adding that “there is no need to consult with Malik Agar” because the Movement already announced its “willingness to hold direct talks and our negotiating team is ready”.
“These baseless statements aim to confuse the international community because the National Congress refuses to negotiate with the SPLM-N and rejects the resolutions of the African Union and the United Nations Security Council”, Arman further said.
The SPLM-N earlier this week accused the Sudanese government of refusing talks, saying that the mediation cancelled twice two dates (5 & 10 March) it had determined for the start of negotiations to settle the conflict in the Blue Nile and South Kordofan states.
ST
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