afrol News, 22 October - Sudanese authorities have called on the former rebels of Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) to rejoin the government of national unity.

The SPLM's pulled out of the unity government some 11 days back has jeopardised the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Accord (CPA) that ended Sudan's civil war.

The 11 October pull out came after they deadlocked with the ruling National Congress Party of President Omar el-Bashir over several issues, including the organisation of national census, demarcation of precise borders between the North and South, the release of detained SPLM members northern prisons and the transfer of troops.

Sudanese Vice President, Ali Osman Taha said SPLM should rejoin the government to save the 2005 accord.

Taha doubted the former rebel movement's claim of not going back to war since it [SPLM] is redeploying forces between the Blue and While Niles in Bahr el-Ghazel [disputed areas], a region close to the border between the North and South Sudan.

The SPLM Secretary General, Yasser Arman, rubbished the government's claims as rubbish, describing them as "unfounded and baseless." The bitter altercation between the two sides resulted in a rift.

Last week, Bashir and SPLM leader Salva Kiir held a meeting without making a significant progress.

Kiir told a news conference today that they will not return to war. He however said they need the international community to help implement the 2005 accord.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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