U.S.’s Phee travels to Khartoum ahead of Sudan’s dialogue process
June 4, 2022 (KHARTOUM) – Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Molly Phee will start on Sunday a five-day visit to Sudan to encourage the Sudanese parties to engage seriously in a dialogue process facilities by the UN, AF and IGAD.
The trilateral mechanism is expected to launch next Wednesday an intra-Sudanese dialogue to restore a civilian-led transition in the country.
The continued violent repression of protesters remains an issue of concern and might push the Forces for Freedom and Change (FFC) to not take part in the process.
Keen to contribute to the success of the process, Phee is expected to urge the military leaders to refrain from violence and encourage the FFC to join the process.
“Assistant Secretary Phee will meet with a wide range of Sudanese stakeholders and political actors and urge them to seize the opportunity offered by the UN-AU-IGAD-facilitated process to restore the transition to democracy and economic stability, and to advance peace,” said the State Department on Saturday.
Biden administration is under pressure from the Congress to sanction the military leaders in Sudan after the October 25, coup which paused the transitional process led by the civilian government.
However, the administration opted to follow a gradual approach with the military considering they have the means to bring them hand over power to civilians.
On May 23, the State Department warned U.S. companies of “growing reputational risks” of conducting business with Sudanese State-Owned Enterprises and military-controlled companies.
“These risks arise from, among other things, recent actions undertaken by Sudan’s Sovereign Council and security forces under the military’s command, including and especially serious human rights abuse against protesters,” State Department spokesperson Ned Price said in a statement.
Two months before on March 21, the U.S. Treasury Department on Monday imposed – what was perceived in Khartoum as symbolic – sanctions on Sudan’s Central Reserve Police, accusing it of using excessive force against the anti-coup protesters.
(ST)