Ceasefire talks ramp up in South Sudan

President of Sudan Omar al-Bashir has arrived in Juba for talks with his South Sudanese counterpart Salva Kiir, while China has called for an immediate ceasefire in South Sudan, in the latest diplomatic efforts to halt the fighting.

Mr Bashir’s move reflects Sudanese fears that the three-week conflict in its southern neighbour could disrupt oil flows and damage its economy.

Speaking in Ethiopia on the first stop of an African tour, the Chinese foreign minister, Wang Yi, said: "China's position with regards to the current situation in South Sudan is very clear . . . we call for an immediate cessation of hostilities and violence."

Fighting is ongoing in South Sudan as peace negotiations in Ethiopia make a faltering start. At least 1,000 people have been killed and almost 200,000 have fled their homes since a power struggle erupted in violence on December 15th.

Mr Bashir, an indicted war crimes suspect wanted by the International Criminal Court, is accompanied by ministers and will meet Mr Kiir but not his rival Riek Machar, reported al-Jazeera. It said the Sudanese government attributed this to practical reasons and was not taking sides.

'Peaceful resolution'
A foreign ministry spokesman in Khartoum stated Sudan's wish to see "a continuation of the political process aimed at finding a peaceful resolution to the conflict in South Sudan".

He also emphasised Sudan’s willingness to offer everything in its power to ensure success of the initiative by IGAD – an eight-country bloc in eastern Africa brokering the talks.

Mr Kiir and Mr Machar were comrades during the south’s struggle against Khartoum, which culminated in secession in July 2011. Relations with Sudan had remained fraught and renewed war seemed possible. But in March the two countries agreed to resume pumping oil through pipelines from south to north. A month later Mr Bashir made his first visit to the south since it gained independence.

Now South Sudan’s internal divisions have seized the regional agenda. Fighting continues outside the flashpoint town of Bor, the capital of Jonglei state, which has untapped oil reserves. On Sunday a South Sudanese army general was killed in an ambush.

Oxfam reiterated its warning of a growing humanitarian crisis, noting that the Awerial refugee camp on the banks of the Nile is now home to 75,000 people. Desire Assogbavi, head of the charity's African Union liaison office in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, said: "Thousands of families already living in extreme poverty have been pushed from their homes and cut off from what they need to survive.

“We are doing what we can . . . But if the conflict continues, it will become even more difficult to meet the increasing needs of those affected.”

Ms Assogbavi added: “All parties to the negotiations taking place in Addis Ababa have a duty to their citizens to reach a swift and peaceful resolution to the conflict. “Protection of human rights, regardless of citizens’ political or ethnic identity, must also be at the core of the resolution.”

Reluctance to disarm
Both warring factions have said they want peace and are committed to a ceasefire in principle, though neither has indicated when they would lay down their weapons. Substantive talks failed to get under way on Sunday, delayed by disagreements over the agenda and protocol issues, it was reported.

US secretary of state John Kerry said: "The negotiations have to be serious. They cannot be a delay gimmick in order to continue the fighting and try to find advantage on the ground at the expense of the people of South Sudan."

Mr Kiir has blamed his long-term rival and former vice-president Mr Machar, whom he sacked in July, for starting the fighting in a bid to seize power.

Mr Machar dismissed the allegation but has acknowledged leading soldiers battling the government. The conflict has taken on ethnic undertones: Mr Kiir is from the majority Dinka community and Machar from the Nuer group. – (Guardian service)