November 4th 2018 (Nyamilepedia) – Sudanese President, Field Marshal Omar Hassan Ahmed AL-Bashir on Saturday accepted a proposal by South Sudan President, Salva Kiir Mayardiit to mediate between the Sudanese government and SPLM-North factions over Sudan’s two areas.
The Sudanese government also welcomed efforts by the South Sudanese head of state to unify the two warring factions of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement – North (SPLM-N) who are on their own fighting over who to lead the movement.
In a statement to the media following a closed door meeting with President Salva Kiir Mayardiit on Friday, the Sudanese Presidential Assistant, Faisal Hassan Ibrahim who is the also the government Chief Negotiator on the Two Areas said he had a fruitful meeting with the South Sudanese leader.
“The Government of Sudan emphasized the vision of President Salva Kiir on the need for a single national army to ensure that the South Sudanese experience would not be repeated,” he further said.
According to the Al-Intibaha newspaper, the visit, which is the first of its kind by a high-ranking Sudanese official over the Two Areas issues discussed the talks between the Sudanese government and the SPLM-North faction led by Abdul-Aziz Al-Hillu under the auspices of the African Union.
Faisal further added during the statement that peace and stability in the Two Areas is a strategic goal for the Sudanese government reiterating the commitment of the government delegation to conduct political negotiations simultaneously to address the issue of humanitarian assistance and security arrangements.
The two areas, Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile descended into a bloody civil war in the lead-up to South Sudan independence on 9 July 2011, starting in South Kordofan on 5 June and spreading to the neighboring Blue Nile state in September.
SPLM-N, splitting from newly-independent SPLM, took up arms against the inclusion of the two southern states in Sudan with no popular consultation and against the lack of democratic elections.
