Security Talks Collapse Between Sudan And South Sudan - Al-Monitor

Security talks collapsed between Sudan and South Sudan following a meeting held in Khartoum between the defense ministers of the two nations.

The two parties failed to reach an agreement to stop supporting and harboring opponents on both sides of the border, and on disengaging the southern army from the northern rebels in the regions of Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile.

Al-Hayat learned from diplomatic African sources that South Sudan wants Khartoum to make concessions in the framework of the dispute over the region of Abyei. It also wants it to accept the African proposal, which consists of holding a referendum in 10 months allowing Abyei to determine its own fate.

Meanwhile, Sudan is placing pressure on South Sudan by not allowing it to pump its oil through the north until it entirely separates its army from northern rebel groups. 

Sudanese Defense Minister Abdul Rahim Mohammed Hussein agreed with his counterpart in South Sudan, John Kong Nyuon, to resume talks through the Joint Political and Security Committee in the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa next Saturday [Dec. 15].

The talks will be attended by African mediator Thabo Mbeki and held simultaneously with the African Peace and Security Council meeting.

Hussein said in a joint press conference with Kong that the pair had had a lengthy meeting, which was attended by the UN envoy to Sudan and South Sudan, Haile Menkerios, and the representative of the African mediation team. He added that they discussed steps to implement cooperation agreements signed between them on Sept. 27.

Kong said the meetings between the two parties have been successful, adding: "Nothing will stop the meetings ... we are carrying on with success."

He said that the postponement and transfer of negotiations to Addis Ababa does not mean that the two parties have arrived at a standstill, "but there are some issues that should be negotiated with the African Union (AU) mediators."

During the talks, Juba refused a proposal to break off military ties with rebels from the Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North, given that the agreement stipulates stopping the support and harboring of armed opposition on both sides of the border.

Meanwhile, Khartoum believes that this is part of the security agreement signed between the two.

Furthermore, the Sudanese opposition alliance announced its intention to sign a "constitutional declaration" and a "constitutional alternative" document in the coming days.

[The alliance] believes that the documents are an attempt to build a broad opposition movement aimed at overthrowing the regime and overcoming the crises plaguing the country.

The alliance said that salvation is drawing near and advised the "wise people" in the government and the ruling party to “jump from the ship" before it sinks, indicating that the regime is becoming weaker “by the day” and that the rulers want to share what is left of the "cake."

Farouk Abu Issa, head of the alliance, announced the alliance’s solidarity with the students of the University of al-Jazirah, following the recent events that led to the killing of four students. These events resulting in the university suspending its classes. He said that the alliance decided to send a delegation to the state of al-Jazirah in solidarity with the students and the families of victims.

In contrast, an official in the ruling National Congress Party, Hassabo Abdulrahman, reiterated the government's commitment to any pledges related to the Darfur students and guaranteed by peace agreements, but stressed the need to examine the issue of student violence in universities. Abdulrahman pointed out that students go to universities to study, not to experience violence.

Student demonstrations broke out once again in different parts of the Sudanese capital yesterday [Dec. 10] against the killing of four students from Darfur at the University of al-Jazirah.

The demonstrators chanted slogans calling for the fall of the regime and revenge for the blood of their colleagues. The police used tear gas and dozens of soldiers to besiege and apprehend students at the University of Khartoum, al-Neelain University and Sudan University.

The Khartoum state police announced the arrest of 47 on charges of "inciting riots and chaos" after "a number of students in some universities rallied illegally in the center of Khartoum."

The police issued a statement saying that the students had gathered after four students from the University of al-Jazirah drowned, noting that the protestors obstructed traffic and created chaos and riots, thus resulting in damages to public and private properties.

On the other hand, armed groups in Darfur — travelling in 17 cars — attacked the villages of Um Katkoot, Azban, Abu Sufyan, Aad Babeker and Fataha in the south-eastern regions of the North Darfur state.

Osman Yusuf Kibir, governor of the North Darfur state, said that the rebels looted markets, and stole cars and fuel from water stations, but no casualties were reported.

He added that these areas were intermittently exposed to attacks by armed movements, pointing out that the aggressors came from parts of the eastern Marrah Mountains and targeted several areas.