ADDIS ABABA
The Sudanese government and the rebel Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) have agreed to launch a fresh round of peace talks on May 13.
"For the first time, the two parties agreed on 70 percent of the points presented for the negotiation," a source close to the talks told Anadolu Agency on Thursday.
According to the source, the two rivals, who concluded a sixth round of talks in Addis Ababa late Wednesday, have ironed out most of their differences on political issues.
"Concerning security affairs, they agreed on 65 percent of the agenda, but failed to agree on ways to stop fighting and other relevant issues," the source said.
Though the two rivals agreed on most issues related to humanitarian assistance, he added, "they could not agree on technical issues, as there are some donor organizations that the government of Sudan does not allow to enter the Sudanese territory."
"The big difference is on the fourth agenda," the source said. "The SPLM-N wants the national dialogue to be held in an independent city – Addis Ababa or Nairobi. It does not accept that the dialogue be led by the government."
The government, meanwhile, says that "the situation is favorable and 75 different political parties have agreed to hold a national dialogue," according to the source.
"[The government says] all those engaged in the armed struggle are also invited to the dialogue and the government will accept whatever the Sudanese people choose. It is the people of Sudan to guarantee," the source said.
Since 2011, the SPLM-N has waged an active insurgency against the Khartoum government in the Blue Nile and South Kordofan states.
Outlawed by the central government, the movement consists mainly of fighters who sided with southern Sudan during the civil war, which ended with a 2005 peace treaty that opened the door to South Sudan's secession from Sudan six years later.
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