Middle-east Arab News Opinion | Asharq Al-awsat

Sudan Criticizes People’s Liberation Movement for Rejecting Political Dialogue | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir / AFP PHOTO / Khalil MAZRAAWI


London– The Sudanese government said on Thursday that the refusal of the People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM-N) to engage in political talks was an attempt to abort peace efforts, stressing its commitment to achieve comprehensive reconciliation in the country.

The Sudanese information minister and the government’s official spokesperson, Ahmed Bilal Othman, said in a statement to the Sudanese Media Center (SMC) that the government would conduct negotiations with SPLM-N with the aim of reaching a comprehensive peace and “not merely for the sake of negotiations”.

He noted that the stance of the government with regards to the humanitarian corridor was settled and unwavering, saying they would not accept entry of relief except through Sudan.

He added: “Any other steps by the movement that would not lead to realization of peace doesn’t concern us.”

During the last round of negotiations in Addis Ababa in August, the SPLM-N asked the Sudanese government to allow the access of 20 percent of humanitarian aid through a humanitarian corridor in the Ethiopian town of Asosa. The government rejected the proposal, describing it as a violation to national sovereignty.

Othman stressed that the door was still open for dialogue, affirming that the government would sit with those who want peace “even of it is one person”.

In remarks to Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper, SPLM-N spokesperson Mubarak Ardol said that his movement was committed to holding negotiations on humanitarian issues, and would not participate in any political talks.

Ardol blamed the Sudanese government for aborting the peace roadmap, noting that the movement has informed the African Mechanism that any future political process should include the government’s acknowledgment of a political crisis in the country.