December 9, 2012 (KHARTOUM) — Sudan and South Sudan delayed their meeting on the implementation of security arrangements to Monday after failing to agree on its agenda.
The two parties did not agree last November in meeting held in Juba on the implementation of security arrangements protocol signed on 27 September, as Sudan says it includes the disarmament of SPLM- North fighters in South Kordofan and Blue Nile and South Sudan denies that.
The African mediation did not show any position as it is seemingly worried by the lack of progress on other the files of Abyei and the talks between Khartoum government and rebels in southern Sudan.
Initially the meeting of the joint political and security committee had to be held on 5 and 6 December but it was later announced for 8 and 9 December.
The two delegations headed by ministers Abdel-Rahim Hussein and John Kong Nyuon transferred their meeting to the headquarters of the ministry of defence in Khartoum far from the media to discuss ways to implement the security arrangements.
Informed sources said the parties maintain their previous positions adding they may strike a deal in Monday's meeting on some of the contentious issues but excluded an agreement on SPLM-N disarmament.
Sudanese officials say Juba has to recall the SPLA soldiers in the two regions and disarm them as they did for SAF members from South Sudan in the past. Juba on the other side say the rebels are no longer linked to its army since the independence.
South Sudanese president Salva Kiir proposed to facilitate an agreement with the rebels on the basis of 28 June 2011 agreement which provides to re-establish the political partnership between the ruling National Congress Party and the SPLM-N and to integrate its fighter in the national army.
(ST)