Africa

A Muslim cleric in northern Nigeria is in the eye of the storm for his part in the country's kidnap crisis.

May 6, 2021 (KHARTOUM) - Volker Perthes Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Sudan, and Abdel Wahid al-Nur head of Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM-AW) discussed peace in Sudan in a meeting held on Thursday.

Perthes is in the South Sudanese capital Juba as he would brief the UN Security Council about the ongoing efforts to achieve peace in Sudan and the democratic transition on 14 May.

He is expected to discuss the peace process with the South Sudanese officials ahead of the resumption of the negotiations between the government and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North of Abdel Aziz al-Hilu on 25 May.

In a tweet posted on Thursday, the UNITAMS head said he had a "Constructive exchange about questions of peace and citizenship in Sudan with Abdel Wahid al-Nur in Juba".

Also, the SLM-AW issued a statement saying that al-Nur briefed Perthes "about the Movement's vision to achieve a just, comprehensive and sustainable peace in Sudan (...) and the Sudanese Sudanese dialogue initiative inside the country that the Movement would announce soon".

The SLM-AW rejected joining the peace process held in Juba last year between the government, the armed groups in Darfur and the SPLM-N led by Malik Agar.

The holdout group says planning to hold an inclusive conference inside the country.

In a statement issued in Khartoum before his travel to Juba on 4 May, Perthes expressed hope that the imminent talks between the government and the SPLM-N al-Hilu will "encourage all remaining non-signatories to engage in good faith with the Sudanese authorities to achieve a just and comprehensive peace in Sudan".

(ST)

May 6, 2021 (JUBA) – South Sudan's Presidential Affairs Minister, Barnaba Marial Benjamin and the Ethiopian Ambassador to South Sudan, Nebil Mandi on Thursday discussed developments regarding the Ethiopia-Sudan border dispute, the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) negotiation and the upcoming elections in Ethiopia.

South Sudan's Presidential Affairs minister, Barnaba Marial Benjamin and the Ethiopian envoy to South Sudan, Nebil Mandi in Juba, May 6, 2021 (courtesy photo)

A statement extended to Sudan Tribune said Marial expounded Ethiopia's longstanding support to his country, stressing how Ethiopians stood with the South Sudanese when they needed friends.

He emphasized the importance of cooperation in linking the two countries and the region through electric power, highways and other vital infrastructure that facilitate utilisation of development potentials.

Commending Ethiopia's persistent efforts for peace and stability in South Sudan, Marial requested the ambassador to further enhance support for the full implementation of the peace agreement.

Meanwhile, Nebil briefed the South Sudanese official on the latest improvements in the Tigray region, notably the relief and humanitarian efforts being conducted by the Ethiopian government.

(ST)

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