Sudanese parliament ready to support dialogue in Central African Republic: speaker

May 4, 2014 (KHARTOUM) – Sudanese parliament expressed readiness to provide all the necessary support to achieve a national dialogue process in the neighbouring Central African Republic (CAR) where lawmakers are expected to adopt a new constitution this month.

Following the adoption of the new constitution in CAR, the legislators plan to hold national forums across the troubled country for public feedback and will call for national reconciliation ahead of general elections scheduled for February 2015.

In a joint press conference held with the visiting speaker of Central African Republic’s National Transition Council (CNT), Alexander Ferdinand Nguendet, the head of the National Assembly Fatih Izz Al-Deen, said Sudan is willing to support national reconciliation and stability in the CAR.

“The Sudanese parliament will devote all its means to support and assist the Central African Republic to get out of this crisis” Izz Al-Deen told reporters, adding that they will arrange meetings between the visiting CAR delegation and humanitarian and civil society groups.

Nguendet said they expect that Sudan can support their efforts to conduct national dialogue and requested Khartoum help in this consultation aiming to achieve a lasting peace and promote economic development.

The CAR is witnessing a cycle of revenge attacks by the Christian militias against the Muslim minority after the seizure of power by Seleka rebels a year ago. Rights groups and international institutions denounced atrocities committed by anti-balaka groups.

The African Union deployed some 5,000 peacekeepers and France dispatched 2,000 soldiers but they failed to stop the bloodshed. An European force of 800-1000 troops started to arrive in the country and expected to be fully deployed in June.

The speaker of the Sudanese parliament said only dialogue can end the ongoing violence in CAR and stressed that African conflicts should be handed by African institutions.

Last week, Sudanese MPs discussed the situation in the CAR and demanded the government to reconcile between the Christians and Muslim Central Africans . they also called to amend relations between Bangui and Ndjamena which is accused of supporting the Seleka rebels.

Khartoum is also keen to see the tripartite CAR – Chadian – Sudanese force resumes its activities and monitor the border between the three countries.

(ST)