EU diplomats calls for confidence-building measures in Sudan

December 7, 2021 (KHARTOUM) – The EU ambassadors to Khartoum Tuesday called for confidence-building measures in Sudan, saying the military takeover has derailed the civilian-military coalition.

EU, Troika and other western countries as well as international financial institutions suspended their economic and financial support for the junta. Only, humanitarian aid has been maintained. They linked the resumption of their support to the reestablishment of the transitional institutions as agreed under the constitutional declaration of August 2019.

The European Unions diplomats to Khartoum met with Prime Minister Abdallah Hamdok on Tuesday to discuss the stalled democratic transition process after a coup d’état that ended the civilian-led transition and expelled December revolution forces from the government.

In a statement released after the meeting, the Ambassadors underscored that the October 25 coup “effectively derailed the coalition of civilians and the military”.

Further, they called for a “national consensus”, stressing it is crucial for democratic rule.

“These confidence-building measures include creating an inclusive national constitution-making process, implementing and extending the 2020 peace agreement, preparing for credible elections and continuing the economic reform agenda,” they stressed.

The political deal that Hamdok signed with the coup leader and Commander-in-Chief of the  Sudanese army on November 21 excluded the Forces for Freedom and Change and gave Hamdok a carte blanche to form a technocrat government that would act under their supervision.

Also, the 14-point agreement provides to amend the Constitutional Document to involve other political forces favourable to the military component in the transitional period.

The Ambassadors reiterated their continued humanitarian assistance to the affected population and called on the prime minister to ensure unrestricted humanitarian access to the needy.

(ST)