After Meeting with Kabashi and Al-Hilou: The Humanitarian aid Agreement…Mechanisms and Obstacles

Sudan Events – Abdul Basit Idris

The agreement to be signed between the Sudanese government and the SPLM-N, led by Abdulaziz Al-Hilu, during the next few days faces many challenges, in addition to the obstacle to its implementation mechanisms on the ground. The step requires tight coordination between the two parties and strict enforcement of the texts of the upcoming agreement to ensure that relief reaches citizens in areas controlled by the government and the SPLM.
Juba meeting
Member of the Sovereign Council and Deputy Army Commander, Lieutenant General Shams Al-Din Kabashi, briefed the President of South Sudan, Salva Kiir Mayardit, in a second meeting in Juba, on the results of talks he held with the head of the SPLM-N, Abdulaziz Al-Hilu, including agreeing to sign an agreement allowing the passage of humanitarian aid to areas of the government and the movement. It is expected to be reached next week, and according to a press circular from the Sovereign Council, President Salva Kiir Mayardit Kabashi called for the necessity of expediting the signing of the agreement to transfer humanitarian aid.
The painful reality
Thousands of people in South Kordofan state are living in extremely poor humanitarian conditions after the movement of food and goods to the cities and countrysides of the state stopped, especially those under government control, following the attacks of the Rapid Support militia (RSF) on a number of the countryside of South Kordofan and its control of part of the main road linking Al-Obeid and Kadugli in the area of Al-Dabaibat,” and last month, violent clashes took place between the forces of the Hemedti militia and the Al-Hilu movement on the outskirts of the city of Dilling, the largest city in South Kordofan state.
Hawa Ismail told (Sudan Events) that the battles between the Al-Hilu Movement and the Rapid Support Forces on the one hand, and the Al-Hilu Movement with the Army on the other hand, pushed thousands of families to flee to safe areas. She said that the residents of major cities and the displaced lack food and security, and she added that the high temperatures and lack of safe drinkinh water causes a number of diseases, especially among children.
For his part, the merchant Al-Tayeb Andali told (Sudan Events) that the city of Kadugli is witnessing a tight siege and its residents are suffering from services in light of the lack of food supplies in the markets, in addition to the scarcity of water and medicines and the power outage due to the interruption of the flow of fuel.
Challenge security
The humanitarian agreement to be signed between the government and the popular leadership of Al-Hilu faces major security challenges, most notably the lack of security on the national road and the siege by the Hemedti militia of the areas of Al-Nahud and Al-Obeid countryside. The flow of aid requires removing security obstacles from the roads and enhancing security and safety guarantees for relief workers and employees of local and foreign organizations, as well as ensuring security surrounding Kadugli Airport.
Break the siege
Through the expected humanitarian agreement, the government is seeking to create an internal breakthrough in the crisis that will enable it to flood the state of South Kordofan with food supplies and convince medical personnel to work. It is also seeking to reduce the intensity of external demands calling for the opening of roads and crossings to deliver aid to the needy, in light of United Nations reports that speak of 18 million being exposed. Sudanese to the specter of hunger due to war.
In turn, Al-Hilu seeks, with this agreement, to confirm his commitment to stopping the hostilities declared by each party nearly 6 years ago, and the SPLM-N attributed its recent movements in South Kordofan to protecting citizens who are subjected to violations by Hemedti forces in large parts of South Kordofan.
It is noteworthy that the humanitarian aid agreement remained an obstacle to any negotiations”