US Delegation Discusses Political Crisis in Sudan with Political Actors

Sudanese protesters attend a demonstration in Khartoum (File photo: Reuters)
Sudanese protesters attend a demonstration in Khartoum (File photo: Reuters)
TT

US Delegation Discusses Political Crisis in Sudan with Political Actors

Sudanese protesters attend a demonstration in Khartoum (File photo: Reuters)
Sudanese protesters attend a demonstration in Khartoum (File photo: Reuters)

A US delegation visiting Sudan met with various political forces and reviewed the national political crisis following the army's seizure of power last October.

The delegation held meetings with the pro-military armed factions which signed the Juba Agreement and the National Umma Party, led by Mubarak Al-Mahdi.

It is scheduled to meet army leaders and the opposition Forces of Freedom and Change-the Central Council (FFC).

Following the meeting, al-Mahdi called in a press statement for expediting the formation of a government consisting of technocrat figures to assume the executive and legislative authorities and lead the country to elections.

He also called for distributing the financial and humanitarian aid to the vulnerable groups that pay the bill for the economic reform agreed upon with international institutions.

Al-Mahdi stressed the importance of lifting the ban on private sector financing from the International Financing Corporation (IFC), affiliated with the World Bank, to ease the burdens on the Sudanese people.

Meanwhile, the FFC-National Accord affirmed its demands for unconditional dialogue, saying it was ready to sit down with all parties.

Spokesperson Mohamed Zakaria Faragallah briefed the US delegation on the peace process developments, including implementing the security arrangements and the challenges such as lack of international support.

Faragallah explained the vision of the forces for a political solution and consensus, including holding dialogue and identifying the parties involved in it.

The FFC wants to hold unconditional dialogue and is willing to meet all parties, Sudanese News Agency (SUNA) quoted Faragallah as saying.

The spokesman indicated that the Forces of Freedom and Change handed over the Tripartite Mechanism a written vision with several observations.

The Tripartite Mechanism consists of the United Nations Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan (UNITAMS), African Union (AU), and Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD).

He stressed that the international community and facilitators must have a position regarding the parties that refuse to join the dialogue because of their negative role that prevents the completion of the democratic transition and contributes directly to exacerbating the economic and security situations.

The FFC Secretary of Foreign Affairs Ahmed Taqd Lisan said the meeting with the US delegation discussed many issues related to the current situation and the initiatives put forward, namely the tripartite mechanism initiative.

Taqd Lisan confirmed the group's desire to participate in the dialogue, noting that it has a clear vision of the talks with the rest of the political blocs without any preconditions.



Biden: Joseph Aoun is ‘First-Rate Guy’

FILE - President Joe Biden addresses the nation from the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, July 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, Pool, File)
FILE - President Joe Biden addresses the nation from the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, July 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, Pool, File)
TT

Biden: Joseph Aoun is ‘First-Rate Guy’

FILE - President Joe Biden addresses the nation from the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, July 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, Pool, File)
FILE - President Joe Biden addresses the nation from the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, July 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, Pool, File)

US President Joe Biden welcomed the election of Joseph Aoun as Lebanon's president on Thursday, saying in a statement that the army chief was the “right leader” for the country.

“President Aoun has my confidence. I believe strongly he is the right leader for this time,” said Biden, adding that Aoun would provide “critical leadership” in overseeing an Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire.

Aoun's election by Lebanese lawmakers ended a more than two-year vacancy and could mark a step towards lifting the country out of financial meltdown.

“We finally have a president,” Biden said later, at the end of a meeting on the response to major wildfires in the US city of Los Angeles.

He said he had spoken to Aoun by phone on Thursday for “20 minutes to half an hour,” describing the Lebanese leader as a “first-rate guy.”

Biden pledged to continue US support for Lebanon’s security forces, and for Lebanon’s recovery and reconstruction, the White House said in a readout of Biden’s call with Aoun.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken called Aoun's election “a moment of historic opportunity,” which offered Lebanon a chance to “establish durable peace and stability.”

Aoun, who turned 61 on Friday, faces the difficult task of overseeing the fragile ceasefire with Israel in south Lebanon.

Separately, Biden spoke about the hostage talks between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

“We’re making some real progress,” he told reporters at the White House, adding that he had spoken with US negotiators earlier Thursday.

“I know hope springs eternal, but I’m still hopeful that we’ll be able to have a prisoner exchange.”

Biden added: “Hamas is the one getting in the way of that exchange right now, but I think we may be able to get that done. We need to get it done.”