This archive report was first published on 11 January 2020.
On Thursday, Sudan's Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok made a historic trip to Kauda, a rebel-held town in the Nuba Mountains, 100km south of Khartoum. The visit was accompanied by diplomats from the World Food Programme, the US, and the UK.
For nine years, Kauda remained isolated due to the fierce war between the rebels and the government of Omar al-Bashir. However, on Thursday, WFP trucks were able to reach the town for the first time since 2011.
Kauda is a significant town for the rebel group, Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North, which controls much of the southern territories in South Kordofan and Blue Nile provinces in Sudan. The group, led by Abdulaziz al-Helu, has demanded a secular state, self-determination, and the professionalisation of the Sudanese military.
Mr Hamdok's visit was seen as a major step towards ending the perennial conflicts in the country. He acknowledged the collective responsibility in peace and stability for Sudan, saying, 'I am grateful to be part of this important moment in history. A moment where we all acknowledge our collective responsibility in peace and stability for Sudan.'
