Sudan’s Bashir returns after failed summit

Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir has returned to Khartoum following his participation in an African Union [AU] summit held in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa. Despite meeting twice with South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir, the summit yielded no positive results. One source, speaking on the condition of anonymity, told Arabstoday that a new round of talks would be held between the two states in Addis Ababa in February. United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon meanwhile said at an AU press conference that both Sudan and South Sudan “need more time,” in order to pave the way for peace and stability in the region. Ki-moon revealed he had met Salva Kiir during the summit, urging him to commit to agreements with his northern counterpart. The UN leader expressed his willingness for the African Union to overcome conflicts in the region, following a spate of violence that has erupted across the continent.