South Sudan: Peace Negotiations

(asked on 8th May 2018) - View Source

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether his Department raised the matter of attacks made by the Rapid Support Forces on the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North Malik Agar branch on 25 April 2018 at the most recent round of the UK-Sudan Strategic Dialogue in Khartoum; and whether those attacks constitute a violation of the unilateral ceasefire agreed by the Government of Sudan.


Answered by
Harriett Baldwin Portrait
Harriett Baldwin
This question was answered on 16th May 2018

The Fifth Round of the UK-Sudan Strategic Dialogue took place in Khartoum on 24 April. Discussions covered a range of issues, including the peace process. We welcomed the Government of Sudan's extension of the unilateral cessation of hostilities to 30 June 2018 and urged both the Government and rebel movements to abide by their announcements so that peace negotiations can resume in a conducive environment. A communique of the Fifth Round is available on the British Government's website.

Reports of violence in Blue Nile State emerged after the Strategic Dialogue. We raised our concerns about them with the Government of Sudan on 9 May, reiterating the UK and international community's expectation that the unilateral cessations of hostilities is observed by both sides. While presenting his credentials to the President of Sudan on 14 May, the British Ambassador took the opportunity to repeat this message. Additionally, the UK Defence Attaché raised the issue with the Sudanese Armed Forces on the same date.

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