KHARTOUM
A fresh round of talks between the Sudanese government and representatives of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) is due to kick off in Addis Ababa on Thursday, according to Sudan's top negotiator.
"The negotiations would focus on issues relating to Blue Nile and South Kordofan states," Ibrahim Ghandour told a joint press conference in Khartoum with former South African president Thabo Mbeki, who is mediating the talks.
"The movement has to reach agreement with us regarding the two states, without wasting time."
Outlawed by Khartoum, the SPLM-N has been waging an active insurgency against the Sudanese government in the Blue Nile and South Kordofan states 2011.
The movement consists of fighters who sided with South Sudan during the civil war, which ended with a 2005 peace treaty that opened the door to South Sudan's independence in 2011.
"The government is committed to negotiations in light of [UN] Security Council Resolution No. 2046 [committing the two sides to settle their dispute through dialogue]," said Ghandour.
Mbeki, for his part, voiced confidence that the two sides would be able to hammer out a comprehensive peace deal.
He did not, however, provide any details about proposals he had made to both sides following the suspension of negotiations last week.
The suspension came to give delegates from both sides time to consult with their respective leaders on proposals put forth by Mbeki's African Union High Implementation Panel for Sudan.
By Mohamed al-Khatem
englishnews@aa.com.tr
