Tripartite mechanism, non-signatories discuss peace, political settlement in Sudan
December 1, 2022 (KHARTOUM) – The tripartite facilitation panel met on Thursday with the non-signatory groups to discuss ways to achieve a political settlement and achieve lasting peace in the country.
The AU-IGAD-UN envoys were in Juba where they held separate meetings with the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) led by Abdel Aziz al-Hilu and the Sudan Liberation Movement of Abdel Wahid al-Nur.
The meetings took place with the efforts of the Trilateral Mechanism to explore the positions of all the Sudanese stakeholders over peace and stability three years after the collapse of the former regime.
The two groups told the mechanism that the political settlement should end the coup and pave the way for addressing the root causes of the political crisis in the country.
“Al-Hilu, stressed that the ongoing political process in Sudan should lead to ending the coup and achieving comprehensive peace in Sudan, not restoring the old partnership,” said the SPLM-N in a statement released after the meeting.
For his part, al-Nur asserted that the solution to the national crisis “begins with the end of the coup, followed by the formation of a civilian transitional government of independent (individuals), and then a Sudanese-Sudanese dialogue to address the roots of national crises”.
The SPLM-N leader further criticized the position of the political forces on the core issues of the conflict in Sudan saying it is “equivocal and negative”.
Al-Hilu was referring to the Movement’s demand for a clear separation between the state and religion.
The SLM leader stressed the need to protect civilians, expel new settlers from the land they forcibly seized, return IDPs and refugees to their homeland and compensate the war-affected people.
It is worth mentioning that the political process between the government and al-Hilu stalled over the extent of the separation between religion and state.
The SLM-AW declined to negotiate with the government and called for a national dialogue conference in Khartoum to address the root causes of the political crisis in Sudan.
The visiting panel members met with Tut Gatluak, Presidential Adviser. to discuss the implementation of the Juba peace agreement, and the best way to reach a lasting peace in Sudan.
(ST)