UN Security Council urges Sudan’s holdout groups to ‘immediately’ join peace process without pre-conditions

NEW YORK – The United Nations Security Council has urged holdout Sudanese rebels who didn’t sign the October 3, peace agreement in Juba to immediately join the South Sudan-brokered peace agreement without preconditions.

Last week, Sudan’s ruling coalition and a number of opposition groups under the banner of Sudanese Revolutionary Front (RSF) signed a landmark peace agreement in Juba, ending almost two decades of war.

The agreement provided for autonomy in the country’s south and teh restive regions of Darfur. It importantly also provides for integration of thousands of rebel fighters into the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF).

However, two key opposition groups have not signed the agreement.

The Sudan People’s Liberation Movement North (SPLM-N) led by renegade Abdel Aziz Adam al-Hilu and the Sudan Liberation Movement/Army (SLM/A) led by General Abdel Wahid Nur, have refused to sign the agreement over suspicion of the ruling military.

In a statement, the UN Security Council said they welcome the signing of teh agreement and commended the commitment of the parties to the deal to end the 17-year-old conflict which has killed thousands and displaced millions.

“The members of the Security Council welcomed the signing of the Juba Peace Agreement in Juba on 3 October 2020 by the Government of Sudan, the Sudan Revolutionary Front (SRF), and the Sudan Liberation Movement-Minni Minawi,” the statement said.

The statement went on to encourage ” signatories of the peace agreement to begin swiftly the process of implementation, particularly of key provisions of the agreement pertaining to security arrangements and addressing the root causes of conflict in Darfur and the Two Areas.”

It further urged the none signatories to the agreement to join the process without precondition immediately.

“The members of the Security Council urged those who have yet to join the peace process with the Government of Sudan to do so immediately, constructively and without pre-conditions to conclude swiftly negotiations on a comprehensive peace agreement, and called upon all international actors to continue encouraging non-participatory parties in this regard,” it said.