Peace Talks between Sudanese Govt, SPLM Faction Falter

Sudan's Sovereign Council Chief General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, South Sudan's President Salva Kiir and Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok after signing a peace agreement in Juba, South Sudan. (Reuters file photo)
Sudan's Sovereign Council Chief General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, South Sudan's President Salva Kiir and Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok after signing a peace agreement in Juba, South Sudan. (Reuters file photo)
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Peace Talks between Sudanese Govt, SPLM Faction Falter

Sudan's Sovereign Council Chief General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, South Sudan's President Salva Kiir and Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok after signing a peace agreement in Juba, South Sudan. (Reuters file photo)
Sudan's Sovereign Council Chief General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, South Sudan's President Salva Kiir and Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok after signing a peace agreement in Juba, South Sudan. (Reuters file photo)

Differences continue to persist at the Juba peace talks between Sudanese government and Abdelaziz al-Hilu’s Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM-N al-Hilu), sources told Asharq Al-Awsat.

This has prompted South Sudan to intervene by extending the talks to June 13, in an attempt to bridge the divide.

Both sides resumed on Monday direct talks at the Palm Africa Hotel in Juba, the capital of South Sudan.

Member of the Transitional Sovereign Council Lieutenant General Shams El-Din Kabbashi led the government delegation, while the movement’s delegation was headed by its Secretary- General Ammar Amoun. South Sudanese mediator Tut Galwak was also present.

According to informed sources, all issues on the table are still pending, namely the transitional period, the state of the economy and means of reforming judicial and civil service agencies.

Rapporteur of the Southern Sudanese mediation committee, Dr. Dhieu Mathok said the mediation team held talks with relevant parties and decided to review some of the notes submitted on the draft framework agreement.

Both sides have agreed to form a small joint committee to reach a unified draft and common understanding about the security arrangements file.

Many contentious issues regarding the judicial system were “resolved,” affirmed Mathok, noting that one issue remained pending, and a committee was tasked to address it.

Most of the disputed issues revolve around the assessment and follow-up commission, Mathok explained.

Many of the contentious issues, which were included in the draft framework agreement, were resolved in the Declaration of Principles that was signed in March.

The Sudanese government and a major rebel group from its southern Nuba Mountains signed the Declaration of Principles, which paved the way for a final peace agreement by guaranteeing freedom of worship to all while separating religion and the state.

The mediation will not review this declaration, Mathok stressed, urging both sides to abide by it.



Israeli Military: 5 Soldiers Killed in Combat in South Lebanon

Israeli Iron Dome air defense system fires to intercept rockets that were launched from Lebanon, as seen from Haifa, northern Israel, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
Israeli Iron Dome air defense system fires to intercept rockets that were launched from Lebanon, as seen from Haifa, northern Israel, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
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Israeli Military: 5 Soldiers Killed in Combat in South Lebanon

Israeli Iron Dome air defense system fires to intercept rockets that were launched from Lebanon, as seen from Haifa, northern Israel, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
Israeli Iron Dome air defense system fires to intercept rockets that were launched from Lebanon, as seen from Haifa, northern Israel, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)

Five Israeli soldiers were killed and 16 others wounded in combat in southern Lebanon in recent weeks, the Israeli military said in a statement on Thursday.

Hezbollah leader Naim Kassem said in a speech aired Wednesday that the Lebanese group is open for ceasefire negotiations only once “the enemy stops its aggression.”

His speech marked the 40-day mourning period since former Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah was assassinated in Beirut.

Hezbollah began firing into Israel on Oct. 8, 2023, in solidarity with Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Since the conflict erupted, more than 3,000 people have been killed and some 13,600 wounded in Lebanon, the Health Ministry reported.