ADDIS ABABA: The African Union (AU) expressed on Wednesday that the suspension of talks between Sudan’s warring parties should not deter further mediation efforts, while also indicating its intention to propose a broader political dialogue.
The Sudanese army had suspended its participation in ceasefire talks brokered by the United States and Saudi Arabia in Jeddah, accusing their paramilitary adversaries of failing to uphold their commitments.
Mohamed El Hacen Lebatt, the chief of staff to the AU Commission president and the AU spokesman for the Sudan crisis, said, “In difficult negotiations, it is a classic phenomenon that one party suspends or threatens to suspend” its involvement.
However, Lebatt emphasized that this should not discourage the mediators, particularly the United States and Saudi Arabia, who receive strong support from the AU, from continuing their efforts.
Lebatt made these remarks following the conclusion of the third meeting between officials from the AU, United Nations, Arab League, European Union, the East African regional bloc IGAD, and neighboring countries to Sudan, held in Addis Ababa.
The meeting, known as the “expanded mechanism,” agreed to propose a “concrete plan” for comprehensive talks as soon as possible, pending adoption by all participants, according to Lebatt.
Proposed Process for Sudan Peace
He further added that the proposed process would encompass all sectors of Sudanese society and extend beyond political or ideological differences. Lebatt highlighted the importance of the international community’s support for the efforts of the Sudanese and clarified that the process would be owned and led by the Sudanese themselves.
The talks would primarily focus on the swift establishment of constitutional arrangements, the conditions for a transition to civilian government, and the implementation of a program to deliver humanitarian aid. Ultimately, the objective is to conduct democratic elections at the earliest opportunity, Lebatt explained.
Since the outbreak of fighting on April 15, multiple ceasefires between Sudanese army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and his former deputy-turned-foe Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, who leads the Rapid Support Forces, have been violated. The most recent ceasefire, which began on May 22, was extended for another five days on Monday. However, clashes persisted on Tuesday in Khartoum, the capital, and the western region of Darfur.
According to the conflict monitor ACLED, the Sudan conflict has already claimed over 1,800 lives.
