Pro-military meeting kicks off in Khartoum amid broad boycott of political forces
August 13, 2022 (KHARTOUM)- A military-supported meeting began in Khartoum on Saturday in a bid to forge a consensus ending the nine-month political crisis, amid a broad boycott of the revolution’s forces.
The People of Sudan initiative launched by a religious leader, al-Tayeb Aljid kicked off a two-day conference at the Friendship Hall in Khartoum to discuss the appointment of a prime minister who can form a new civilian government to achieve the remaining reforms and prepare for elections.
The opening session of the conference was attended by former Darfur Governor Tijani al-Sisi, former Minister of Health, Bahr Abu Garda, former Interior and Information Minister, Ahmed Balal Osman, and former Presidential Assistant Musa Mohamed Ahmed, among other political figures that were allied with the al-Bashir’s regime.
In addition, attended the meeting some tribal leaders, most notably the Handawa tribal leader, Mohamed al-Amin Turek, and al-Mahameed tribal, Musa Hilal, together with some representatives of youth and women groups affiliated with the dissolved National Congress Party.
The opening session was attended by several diplomats from Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the African Union and IGAD.
The crowd chanted slogans against “foreign interference” in Sudanese affairs, “UNITAMS” and others in support of the army.
“People of Sudan” conference is the result of the efforts of 40 political initiatives seeking to find a solution to the current crisis, with the participation of about 120 parties,” said the initiator of the meeting al-Tayeb Aljid in a speech at the opening session.
He said that the talks he held with the political forces unanimously agreed that the relationship between the people, the armed forces and other regular agencies is above rivalry or conflict, but rather a patriotic duty.
He further said they still hope that those who did not take part in the meeting would join calls for reconciliation, even if they have reservations or opposed the initiative.
“There is nothing between us and them except the love of the homeland and respect for their right to disagree,” he added.
The meeting was boycotted by the Forces for Freedom and Change, the National Consensus, the Resistance Committees and the Sudanese Communist Party.
Former regime’s plan
Jaffar Hassan, an FFC Spokesman told Sudan Tribune that this meeting is nonsense because it aims to implement a scheme concocted by the former regime and the army leaders.
“The military government and the former regime think they can form a (transitional) government that they would deceive the international community through the word ‘People of Sudan’. But this will not fool anyone,” Hassan added.
In the same trend, Wagdi Salih an FFC leading member described the meeting as a”falsification of facts”.
This conference is “the same script and book that ousted President al-Bashir and his regime read from.” he further told Sudan Tribune.
While, Noreldaem Taha Deputy Secretary-General of the National Consensus coalition and a close aide to Minni Minnawi said that they did not participate in the conference, despite their “deep belief in dialogue as the most effective means to reach consensus.”
He did not further elaborate on the reason for this boycott as they had been enthusiasts for the initiative.
On August 8, Hafiz Abdel Nabi, Head of the National Consensus Political Committee of the National Consensus coalition rejected the People of Sudan initiative saying it is made by Islamist elements of the former regime.
“The initiative of the People of Sudan is a circumvention of the project of the revolution by obscurantist forces,” Abdel Nab told Sudan Tribune.
(ST)