Egypt will host a conference next month bringing together Sudanese civilian political groups to produce an agreement on ways to build a comprehensive and permanent peace, the Egyptian foreign ministry said on Tuesday.
The conference will be held with the participation of relevant regional and international partners, the ministry said in statement.
The aim of the conference is to reach a consensus among the various Sudanese civilian political groups on ways to build comprehensive and lasting peace in Sudan through a Sudanese-Sudanese national dialogue based on a purely Sudanese vision, it noted.
Sudan has been gripped since April 202 by a civil war between the Sudanese army, led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) of Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo.
The conflict has displaced nearly 6 million people within Sudan, and driven over 2 million people into five neighboring countries, according to UN estimates.
The ministry said Egypt’s invitation comes from a firm belief that the current conflict in Sudan is primarily a Sudanese issue, and that any future political process should include all active national parties on the Sudanese scene, and within the framework of respecting the principles of Sudan's sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity, non-interference in its internal affairs, and preserving the state and its institutions.
The invitation, it added, comes within the framework of Egypt's keenness to make all possible efforts to assist Sudan in overcoming the crisis it is facing and addressing its serious repercussions on the Sudanese people and the security and stability of the region, especially Sudan's neighboring countries.
“This is in light of the deep historical, social, fraternal and deep ties that bind the Egyptian and Sudanese peoples together and based on Egypt's commitment to supporting all efforts to achieve peace and stability in Sudan,” the ministry said.
It affirmed that the conference is part of Cairo’s ongoing efforts and endeavors to stop the war in Sudan, and within the framework of cooperation and integration with the efforts of regional and international partners, especially Sudan's neighboring countries, the parties to the Jeddah talks, the United Nations, the African Union, the Arab League, and the IGAD organization.
Therefore, the ministry said that Egypt looks forward to the active participation of all Sudanese civil political forces and relevant regional and international partners, and to join hands to ensure the success of the conference in achieving the aspirations of the Sudanese people.
Dr. Amani Al-Taweel, director of the African program at Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies, stressed the importance of Egypt’s decision to host the conference.
She told Asharq Al-Awsat the invitation is based on Cairo's involvement in efforts to solve the crisis in Sudan, through its hosting of the Neighboring States Summit and a meeting of the Sudanese political forces.
Also, she added, this invitation comes after Cairo welcomed last March former Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok, who represents a Sudanese bloc different from the forces that had met in Egypt.
“Egypt is therefore qualified to play an important role in the next phase, especially amid its ongoing consultations with the US envoy to Sudan and with regional partners, mainly Saudi Arabia and the UAE,” Al-Taweel said.
Former Egyptian Assistant Foreign Minister Ambassador Ali al-Hafni hoped Cairo’s invitation will be welcomed by all Sudanese forces.
“The upcoming conference will provide the right conditions and place to bring the Sudanese parties around one table with hopes to reach an understanding and put an end to the internal strife, stop the bloodshed, allow the return of displaced Sudanese, and facilitate the delivery of aid,” al-Hafni told Asharq Al-Awsat.
