A high-ranking delegation from the European Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee held meetings with Sudanese authorities and civil society groups in Khartoum on Thursday.
The delegation renewed support for all parties to the crisis to resume the process of transition towards democracy.
The EU delegation also called for bringing all perpetrators of human rights violations to justice, in cooperation with the International Criminal Court.
Head of the EU delegation David McAllister held talks with deputy head of Sudan’s Transitional Sovereign Council General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo.
The MEP welcomed the military institution’s withdrawal from the political process and reiterated the EU’s firm support for the ongoing efforts of the tripartite mechanism (the United Nations, African Union, and Intergovernmental Authority on Development) to help bridge differences among parties and facilitate a restoration of a civilian-led transition to democracy.
He emphasized the need for all Sudanese actors—including Sudan’s military—to constructively engage in a political process to restore a civilian-led transition to democracy.
McAllister affirmed that his one-day visit to the country is aimed at renewing the full and complete support for the Sudanese people’s demand for democracy and democratic civil rule.
The opposition Forces of Freedom and Change coalition said that its foreign affairs committee met with the EU delegation.
It issued a statement describing the meeting as “important,” noting that discussions touched on issues related to the civil and democratic transition.
The coalition said it is ready to engage in a credible process that eventually leads to the establishment of a genuine democratic civil system as the basis for stability in Sudan and the region.
It presented its vision to the EU delegation and underlined the need to protect civilians and end the violence practiced by the coup authority against popular movements.
The EU delegation also held talks with the National Consensus Forces, which backed the October 25, 2021 military takeover.
Head of the National Consensus Forces Mubarak Ardol said the delegation was keen to listen to the Sudanese parties’ points of views.
“We underlined the need to conduct a comprehensive and inclusive dialogue to agree on a national mechanism that brings together all initiatives and pacts in one document to manage the transitional period and hold general elections in the country,” Ardol explained.
Talks with the EU delegation tackled the relation between the military and civilians and the way it should be to maintain stability.
He called on the EU to play a greater role in the political process and the mediation among various Sudanese parties to reach a political solution to the crisis.
