African Union, UN agree to partner on Sudan’s dialogue process

March 10, 2022 (KHARTOUM) – UNITAMS Head Volker Perthes and African Union Envoy Mohamed El Hacen Lebatt on Thursday said they would join their efforts to bring Sudanese to end the current political stalemate and restore a civilian-led transitional government.

Perthes and Lebatt appeared together hand to hand in a joint press conference on Thursday for the first time after multiple visits by African Union officials and statements by the African Union Peace and Security Council about their leading role in the restoration of the civilian-led transition in Sudan.

The special representative of the UN secretary-general stressed that the United Nations is committed to partnering with the African Union and IGAD to return Sudan to a real transition path, ending with free and fair elections and democratic civilian rule.

The goal of this partnership is to restore the constitutional situation and a transitional path towards civil and democratic rule, Volker said.

He stressed that the United Nations and the African Union will not impose any solution, but rather the dialogue must be “Sudanese – Sudanese.”

After announcing the partnership, he spoke about the timeframe he said they are in a situation of urgency and they have to finalize the process very quickly.

“We do not have long to act,” he said, pointing to the deteriorating economic and security situation in Sudan, as well as the bloody repression against protesters who are killed in the streets.

He further warned that the date of forgiveness of Sudan’s debts is approaching. So, “We must reach a solution before next June,” he added.

For his part, Lebatt said that the United Nations and the African Union would not set the agenda of the proposed intra-Sudanese dialogue.

He added that Sudanese have to develop an urgent programme for the transitional period, which includes the constitutional, executive and judicial status.

The African Union official went further to speak about the needed steps to create a conducive environment for the political process such as the release of political detainees, stopping violence against protesters, and lifting the state of emergency.

“We need responsible and appropriate action as soon as possible for national consent, in order to restore the constitutional legitimacy of the country and end the military coup,” said the African diplomat who mediated the constitutional declaration of 2019.

The agreement on the partnership will cut short any attempt to maintain the current status quo with a military regime backed by Islamist elements.

Observers expressed fears that the military would try to juggle multiple initiatives and finish by remaining in power.

The Forces for Freedom and Change (FFC) welcomed the partnership between the African Union and the UNITAMS to resolve the Sudanese crisis.

The political coalition met on Thursday with the two partners to discuss the situation in Sudan and the way forward to end the political crisis.

“The FFC Executive Office reiterated that any political process must achieve the goals of the revolution and the demands of the street,” said the statement.

The statement further pointed to the need to repeal the state of emergency, end violence against protesters, release political detainees.

(ST)