Sudanese government says SPLM-N ‘not serious’

The Sudanese government has accused the Sudan People's Liberation Movement –Northern Sector (SPLM-N) opposition group of failing to take negotiations seriously. The two groups have been in talks to resolve the armed conflict in the states of Blue Nile and South Kordofan. Assistant to the Sudanese president Nafie Ali Nafie has asserted that the Darfur opposition is far from serious to reach a solution. He said during the first tour of negotiations in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, the delegation from SPLM-N  were waiting for the results of an attack by  the Revolutionary United From( RUF) on areas in the states of North and South Kordofan.   Nafie revealed that the r RUF targeted the city ofAl Abyad City, capital of North Kordofan, and Kadugli, capital of Southern Kordofan. In a press statement following a leadership meeting of the ruling party in Sudan on Monday evening, Nafie confirmed that the attacks incurred no injuries. The meeting discussed a detailed report given by the head of the government delegation in the negotiations with SPLM – N. Ibrahim Ghandour who is also Head of External Relations in Sudan’s ruling National Congress Party (NCP) said the government took part in the negotiations in good faith to discuss the crisis, but SPLM -N, who was represented by Yasir Arman agenda exceeded the issues of Blue Nile and South Kordofan. Ghandour added that the party wanted to discuss all the issues of Sudan, which was met by a negative response from intermediaries who emphasised that the mandate was to discuss the issue of the two regions only. Nafie highlighted the most important outcome of the first round of negotiations is that the government has proved their seriousness in tackling the conflict, while the opposition is not. South Kordofan governor Ahmed Haroun visited the Um Barmitta after the recent attack by the RUF on the region. Haroun was accompanied by members of the security committee in the state of South Kordofan to assess the situation Haroun pledged during the visit to provide protection to all its citizens. The Sudanese army also announced it has responded to the RUF attack and has seized a number of vehicles and weapons from the rebel group. A well informed source who preferred not to be named confirmed the Sudanese army had made progress on regaining control of the area of Abu Krashwla, which was seized by RUF recently. Head of the Sudanese parliament Ahmed Ibrahim Al-Tahir announced during his inspection of the situation of the displaced from their homes in Abu Krashwla and  ??Rahad in North Kordofan, to provide the people with food and shelter. Taher added: “We promise you with a close victory coming soon, to liberate your lands and home.” The charity organisation Red Crescent says that the number of people affected who arrived to the city of Rahad from the regions of Abu krashwla and Um Bormitta exceeded 27,000, with the number expected to increase.