Sudan failed talks disappoint AU/UN

The UN and the African Union have expressed disappointment over failed talks between the Sudanese government and rebels on a ceasefire in Darfur and two other conflict zones.

The talks on a cessation of hostilities in Darfur, Blue Nile and South Kordofan were held in Addis Ababa last week after three prominent rebel groups signed a roadmap brokered by AU mediators for ending the conflicts in the three areas.

The roadmap, which had already been signed by the Sudanese government, had raised hopes of a breakthrough after successive rounds of abortive talks.

Tens of thousands of people have been killed and millions displaced in the three areas when minority ethnic groups rebelled against the Omar al-Bashir government dominated by Arabs.

The UN released a statement saying, ‘‘the secretary general is disappointed that the Sudanese parties failed to reach an agreement on a cessation of hostilities in Darfur and the two areas of Blue Nile and South Kordofan states”.

The African Union mediating panel also criticized the Darfur rebels for the failure of the talks saying that the talks on Blue Nile and South Kordofan had been derailed by disagreements over the handling of humanitarian aid.

AFP