A roundup of a few key stories last week on political issues in Sudan and South Sudan:

Kiir and Machar commit to talks on interim government (Radio Tamazuj, 11 June 2014) -- President of South Sudan Salva Kiir and his former deputy Riek Machar have committed to complete talks on the formation of an interim government within 60 days, or else face sanctions by East African states.

US condemns Sudan’s attacks in border states (Sudan Tribune, 13 June 2014) -- The United States on Thursday issued a strong condemnation of what it claimed to be attacks by Sudanese army and its militias known as the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in the border states of the Blue Nile and South Kordofan.

Mass defections from SPLA at Jonglei Front (Radio Tamazuj, 12 June 2014) -- More than a thousand soldiers of South Sudan’s national army (SPLA) have deserted their positions at the Jonglei front and headed back toward key towns or toward their home base, after the army delayed in paying their salaries.

Sudan: Second opposition leader arrested in under a month (Radio Tamazuj, 9 June, 2014) -- Sudanese authorities on Sunday arrested the head of Sudan's opposition Congress Party, a party official said, weeks after the arrest of another opposition leader, Sadiq al-Mahdi, sparked violent anti-government protests.

IGAD says South Sudan peace symposium ‘success’ (Radio Tamazuj, 9 June 2014) -- East African mediators of the Inter-Governmental-Authority on Development have announced the ‘successful’ conclusion of a two-day symposium with civil society, government, and opposition delegates in Addis Ababa.