SRF rebels call on international envoys to support Sudan’s pre-dialogue meeting
September 9, 2015 (PARIS)– The Sudan Revolutionary Front (SRF), a coalition of rebel groups, on Wednesday called on the international community to support the decision of the African Union Peace and Security Council (AUPSC) in favour of a pre-dialogue meeting.
The meeting takes place after a decision by the AUPSC on 25 August reiterating its support for a pre-dialogue meeting gathering all the armed groups and political parties but the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) rejects this roadmap.
SRF external relations secretary, Yasir Arman,, who is also the SPLM-N secretary-general, told Sudan Tribune that the SRF urged the international envoys to back-the recent decision of the African Union 539 in support of a compressive and inclusive national dialogue process in Sudan.
Arman further revealed that the envoys have agreed to back up the AUPSC’s decision on national dialogue.
He asserted that the decision will be communicated to the United Nations Security Council which will support it, particularly since “there is an international consensus that any matter that wins regional consensus should receive international consensus as well”.
The second meeting was attended by US Envoy to Sudan and South Sudan Donald Booth, British counterpart, Matthew Cannell in addition to the Head of African affairs department at the French foreign ministry Jean-Christophe Belliard. Also, present were a representative of Norway and the EU envoy for the Horn of Africa Alexander Rondos.
During the meeting, the SRF groups stressed their commitment to protecting the unity of the ‘Sudan Call’ forces, which besides the rebel alliance, include the National Umma Party (NUP), National Consensus Forces (NCF) and civil society groups.
Arman appealed to Russia and China to support the African roadmap because it sets the foundation for peace, security and democracy in the country, which will enable Sudan to enter into a partnership with the international community, including Russia and China. “No development can be achieved at times of war,” he said.
The meeting was addressed via conference call by NUP leader al-Sadig al-Mahdi, NCF chairman, Farouk Abu Issa, Amin Makki Madani, head of the Alliance of the Sudanese Civil Society Organisations and Gahzi Salah al-Din Attabani the leader of the Reform Now Movement (RNM), a splinter faction of the ruling party.
Arman said the participation of Attabani in the meeting marks a progress in the relation between the RNM and the SRF.
He pointed out that the SRF groups will hold a three-day meeting in the French capital to discuss the political situation, adding the meeting should come out with a road map for all issues of peace and national dialogue in Sudan.
He said preparations were underway for a meeting of the Sudan Call Forces, but he did not give a specific date for that meeting.
Also, Arman reiterated that SRF are committed to the unity of the opposition and to a comprehensive peace settlement, away from partial solutions.
“We have promised the Sudanese people and the international community to come up with a comprehensive roadmap to end war. The ball is now in Khartoum’s court. It is the party that had initiated these wars and it persistently refused to bring them to an end,” he added.
Last Sunday, the dialogue mechanism softened this position on the pre-dialogue meeting and announced accepting to meet the rebel groups before the process to discuss the guarantees enabling them to participate in the dialogue conference in Khartoum.
In previous statements, the SPLM-N secretary general had dismissed government press reports that Khartoum would not mind attending a preliminary meeting with SRF and armed groups as an attempt by the government to cause a rift in the opposition forces, particularly between the SRF and the NUP of Sadiq al-Mahdi.
The pre-dialogue meeting s supposed to discuss the confidence building measures that the government should implement before the process in order to create a conducive environment. These include a cessation of hostilities and humanitarian access for civilians in the rebel held areas, political freedoms and freedom of the press.
US PROPOSAL FOR STOPPING HOSTILITIES
US Envoy Donald Booth declined to make any statement to the media, but sources that took part in the meeting said he suggested that the rebels should announce their willingness to accept a ceasefire in response to President Omer al-Bashir’s offer to stop military operations for two months.
Following the joint meeting, Booth met with rebel groups from Darfur region and discussed their demand for renegotiating the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur.
Booth declined to make any statement, but sources that took part in the meeting said he suggested to the rebel groups that they should announce their willingness to accept a ceasefire in response to President al-Bashir’s offer to stop military operations for two months.
Sudan Tribune learnt that Booth also held a separate meeting with the SPLM-N to discuss negotiations with Khartoum on a declaration of principles document, including a ceasefire, and humanitarian assistance to civilians in the SPLM-N controlled areas.
On its part, Sudan Liberation Movement – Abdel Wahid al-Nur issued a statement reiterating its demand for protection of civilians, disarming the Janjaweed and the removal of new-comers from the lands and Hawakeer.
The statement clearly provided that the group would not negotiate with Khartoum until those “confidence building measures” were met.
(ST)