The Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) dismissed peace negotiations with the country’s ruling generals before forming a transitional government.
This took place during discussions in South Sudan’s capital Juba with delegations from the Transitional Military Council (TMC) and the Alliance for Freedom and Change (FFC).
TMC’s Deputy Head General Mohamed Hamdan Daglo and his delegation returned Sunday from Juba without reaching a peace agreement with the main group of Sudan People's Liberation Movement/North.
Rebel groups led by SPLM had demanded that a document signed between the ruling generals and the FFC, which is the main protest movement that led to the ouster of Omar al-Bashir, call on the new government to make peace negotiations a top priority.
Once a peace deal is finalized, the rebel groups say they want their representatives to be part of the transitional government.
The Juba discussions witnessed for the first time since Bashir’s ouster joint negotiations between the TMC, the FFC and armed groups.
Commander Jagoud Mikwar stated that SPLM insists on peace talks with the transitional civil governments after its formation. Mikwar, however, renewed the forces' commitment to a three-month ceasefire.
The commander stressed keenness to negotiate with a civil government composed of the FFC and the TMC.
TMC spokesman Shams El Din Kabbashi said in press statements on Sunday that his delegation held talks with South Sudanese President Salva Kiir Mayardit, who affirmed his interest in peace and stability in Sudan.
Kabbashi revealed a meeting gathered the Sudanese delegation with the SPLM/North.
Further, an FFC leader told Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper that the African mediator informed them that the meetings of the joint technical committee entrusted to draft the constitutional document began Monday and the two parties would engage in negotiations regarding the document Tuesday.
Immunity – mentioned in the draft – is a matter of dispute between the parties. While the first draft stipulates absolute immunity for the president and members of the transitional Sovereign Council, the FCF stresses partial immunity that can be abolished by the approval of one-third of the council members.
Another controversial matter is the level of representation with the FCF insisting on representing 67 percent of the council.
