Hamdok: No Red Lines in Sudanese Peace Negotiations

Sudan’s Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok (Reuters)
Sudan’s Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok (Reuters)
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Hamdok: No Red Lines in Sudanese Peace Negotiations

Sudan’s Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok (Reuters)
Sudan’s Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok (Reuters)

Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok has affirmed that no red lines should be set in the country’s peace process. His comments were made a day before talks between the government and Abdelaziz al-Hilu’s Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM-N al-Hilu) were resumed.

The government received an official invitation from the South Sudan mediation team to resume peace talks via videoconference on Tuesday.

Spokesman of the government delegation Mohamed Hassan al-Taishi said the scheduled negotiations are set to tackle three issues.

“These are cessation of hostilities, humanitarian issues and resumption of talks on the Declaration of Principles signed between the two sides in Juba, the capital of South Sudan.”

In a statement on Monday, Taishi noted that the government is ready and keen to continue the dialogue to break the stalemate in negotiations with the SPLM-N.

He stressed that it aims at achieving just and comprehensive peace, which addresses the issues of war and peace in Sudan.

Previous rounds of negotiations were stalled due to the SPLM-N al-Hilu’s adherence to its long-standing position regarding a secular state against the right to self-determination for the Nuba Mountains and Blue Nile regions.

The government delegation had made several proposals to overcome the existing differences over the religion-state relations, but the two parties failed to reach a joint agreement to address the issue.

Hamdok received a letter from the resistance committees, urging the government to speed up with the peace process, as well as many current issues.

It is noteworthy that these committees led to the popular movements to overthrow ousted President Omar al-Bashir’s regime.

They called for mass demonstrations on June 30 to pressure the transitional government to implement the revolution’s goals.

According to a statement by the Premier’s office, the letter expressed the country's immediate need for peace, being the most important issue for achieving social peace through continuous dialogue.

Hamdok urged the resistance committees to refrain from undermining the achievements made by the revolution, pointing out that toppling the isolated regime with all its violence and tyranny was a major and significant step.

He said the letter submitted by the committees include an integrated work program, which comes in line with the revolution’s goals.



Iran, Syria Agree to Strengthen Anti-Terrorism Cooperation

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and his Syrian counterpart Bassam Sabbagh in Tehran on Tuesday. (AFP)
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and his Syrian counterpart Bassam Sabbagh in Tehran on Tuesday. (AFP)
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Iran, Syria Agree to Strengthen Anti-Terrorism Cooperation

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and his Syrian counterpart Bassam Sabbagh in Tehran on Tuesday. (AFP)
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and his Syrian counterpart Bassam Sabbagh in Tehran on Tuesday. (AFP)

Iran and Syria have pledged to strengthen joint efforts to “combat terrorism,” without directly addressing the role of Iranian advisors in Syria.

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met with Syria’s new Foreign Minister Bassam Sabbagh in Tehran on Tuesday. This marked Sabbagh’s first visit to Tehran since taking office in September.

In a joint press conference, Araghchi reaffirmed Iran’s support for Syria and its regional allies. “Iran will always stand by Syria and the Axis of Resistance,” he said, promising continued assistance.

Sabbagh called the talks “positive and constructive,” emphasizing closer cooperation between the two countries. He condemned “Israeli aggression” and stressed the need for an immediate halt to such actions and the delivery of humanitarian aid to those in need.

Sabbagh also reiterated Syria’s call to end Israel’s occupation of the Golan Heights and highlighted the importance of working with Iran to combat terrorism and its sources, according to Iranian media.

Sabbagh’s visit to Tehran comes days after Ali Larijani, a senior advisor to Iran’s Supreme Leader, met with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in Damascus.

Iran’s Javan newspaper reported that Larijani delivered a message to the Axis of Resistance, stressing continued operations and addressing a proposed ceasefire in Lebanon.

The talks also included support for Syria and Hezbollah’s rejection of US changes to UN Resolution 1701, known as the “Litani Plus” plan.

The visit followed remarks by Ali Asghar Khaji, an advisor to Iran’s foreign minister, who told Russia’s RIA Novosti that Iran has no plans to adjust its advisory presence in Syria despite rising regional tensions.