Sudan’s political parties announced that the African Union (AU) and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) proposed a new vision to stop the war, paving the way for a comprehensive political process with the participation of all parties.
A recent diplomatic issue arose between the AU and Khartoum regarding the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), one of the warring parties in Sudan.
The National Accord Forces (Watan) said in a statement that a meeting was held at the invitation of the Union and IGAD in the presence of political and civil forces.
The statement added that the AU and IGAD proposed a vision for holding a preparatory conference preceding the political process to discuss managing the dialogue.
The vision also addresses the participation rate of each bloc, its location, the timetable for the national dialogue, and the role of the regional and international community.
- Regional and international role
According to the statement, the Union and IGAD confirmed they were in contact with the Arab League and the UN to ensure the dialogue has broader support.
The National Accord Forces stressed that the RSF must adhere to the Jeddah negotiations to ensure a permanent ceasefire and humanitarian aid delivery.
The statement said the national intra-Sudanese dialogue is a political process that includes all components without excluding any party.
The Forces proposed forming the national mechanism for the preparatory conference, holding more meetings and discussions, expanding the participation base, and organizing workshops for the political parties.
Several reports indicated that Egyptian President Abdelfattah al-Sisi discussed with the chairman of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki, the recent developments in Africa and efforts to end the ongoing war in Sudan.
The AU and IGAD are scheduled to meet other Sudanese political parties, such as the Forces of Freedom and Change.
- Supporting the Jeddah negotiations
The Forces of Freedom and Change and other civil forces are preparing to hold meetings in Addis Ababa to consult on establishing the largest civil anti-war front.
The Forces of Freedom called for unifying all initiatives at regional and international levels to support the Jeddah process, sponsored by Saudi Arabia and the US, to reach a permanent ceasefire, followed by a political process that prepares for the transition to civilian ruling.
In July, the Sudanese army boycotted IGAD meetings, rejecting the Quartet chaired by Kenya to end the crisis in Sudan.
The Sudanese army accused the Kenyan President, William Ruto, of siding with the Rapid Support Forces and providing asylum to its leader.
A severe crisis also erupted between the army and the AU chairperson after he met with the RSF political advisor, Youssef Ezzat, in Addis Ababa.
The AU and IGAD stress that there is no military solution to the crisis in Sudan, urging the warring parties to negotiate to end the war and launch a comprehensive political process, with the participation of political and civil forces to complete the civil transition in the country.
