KHARTOUM: Sudan and South Sudan are talking peace after months of intermittent clashes but observers say there is still no end in sight to a rebellion in the north’s border states.

Regardless of whether deals reached over the past week — including a demilitarised border zone — finally end conflict between Khartoum and the South’s government in Juba, observers say Sudan will continue to face an insurgency in South Kordofan and Blue Nile.

Sudan says the South has been backing the rebels, who were not part of last week’s discussions in Addis Ababa.

“Even if Juba stops its support it doesn’t mean an ultimate end to this conflict,” said Magdi El Gizouli, a fellow at the Rift Valley Institute. “There are domestic local causes of this war and these causes have to be addressed.”

AFP