Khartoum, Rebels Show 'Flexibility' At Addis Talks

A source close to peace talks between the Sudanese government and the rebel Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) in Addis Ababa reported that both camps appeared to show "flexibility" at a Tuesday meeting.



The two chief negotiators held one-on-one discussions without a third party – for the first time – and agreed to first discuss issues related to Sudan's Blue Nile and South Kordofan states and deal with remaining matters later, the source, who asked not to be named, told Anadolu Agency.



On Tuesday, Ibrahim Ghandour, external relations secretary for Sudan's ruling National Congress Party (NCP), and SPLM-N Secretary-General Yasser Arman discussed the agenda of Wednesday's talks, sources said.



Tuesday's discussions are the first face-to-face meeting between the chief negotiators without the presence of Thabo Mbeki, the former South African president who is currently leading mediation efforts.



Earlier, the government had said that it wanted talks to include discussions about the situation in Blue Nile and South Kordofan – both epicenters of the SPLM-N's ongoing insurgency – but the rebel group had demanded that talks focus on other issues, including peace and democracy in all of Sudan.



"Following the discussion, SPLM-North has shown flexibility to negotiate on the Blue Nile and South Kordofan issues [first]," the source said.



The two sides are expected to brief their respective delegations on the results of their one-on-one meeting.



"The parties are showing a spirit of finding [a] solution through dialogue," the source said.   



The African Union has warned both sides that it would refer the issue to the UN Security Council in the event that they failed to reach agreement before April 30.



Since 2011, the SPLM-N has waged an active insurgency against Khartoum in the Blue Nile and South Kordofan states.



Outlawed by the central government, the movement consists mainly 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 secession from Sudan six years later.



englishnews@aa.com.tr - Addis Ababa