South Sudan suspends talks over aid delivery to Sudan’s Two Areas

May 19, 2024 (JUBA) – The South Sudanese mediation announced the suspension of negotiations between the Sudanese government and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) as of Sunday. This pause aims to allow the participating delegations to conduct consultations before reconvening.

On the fourth day of negotiations hosted in Juba, the parties were unable to reach an agreement on how to open routes for delivering humanitarian aid to those affected by the war and displaced civilians in areas under the control of the SPLM-N, led by Abdelaziz al-Hilu.

In a press statement following the suspension of talks, South Sudanese Foreign Minister Ramadan Mohamed Abdallah Goch stated, “We saw this as the final session in this round of talks, to give the parties a time to consult with their respective leaderships on the nature of some technical issues raised during the talks.”

Goch added that the mediation would soon announce the date for the resumption of negotiations after receiving the parties’ positions on the outstanding technical issues. He emphasized that another round of negotiations would be held in the near future but did not specify a date.

Reliable sources told Sudan Tribune that the mediation would conduct further consultations between the parties and confirmed the SPLM-N’s commitment to returning to negotiations whenever the mediation committee decides.

The Sudanese government’s proposal to South Sudanese mediation includes a ceasefire to allow the passage of humanitarian aid to South and West Kordofan states and the Blue Nile region via land and air routes, with the government of South Sudan acting as a supervisory body.

Meanwhile, the SPLM-N insists on simultaneously delivering humanitarian aid to all regions of Sudan.