The peace talks in Nigeria are not making much progress, as the rebels and government trade charges of bad faith and unwillingness to seriously negotiate.  The government has long followed a policy of dragging out negotiations, while using irregular militias to weaken rebel groups. This is not working as well any more, because the UN and African Union are demanding that peacekeepers be allowed in to force the government to stop the persecution of civilians. So far, the government has managed to stall any meaningful change.

The government has made peace, or the appearance of peace, with opposition political parties. In addition to the antagonism between the Arab Sudanese and the African Sudanese, there has long been disputes within the Arab Sudanese community, mainly over the use of Islamic law.