Chadian ministerial summit pushes for final ceasefire in Sudan
August 8, 2023 (N’DJAMENA) – The first meeting of the Ministerial Mechanism of Sudan’s neighbouring countries concluded in the Chad on Monday, with agreement among the delegates for a three-part action plan for a final ceasefire.
Chadian President Mahamat Idris Deby hosted the foreign ministers of Sudan’s neighbouring countries for a meeting to address the situation in Sudan across three key areas, namely security, political landscape and humanitarian context.
During the meeting, the Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry stressed that since the Sudanese people are not involved in this conflict or its underlying causes, it is the responsibility of neighbouring countries to extend a helping hand to Sudan.
Shoukry said Egypt has embarked on tangible steps towards achieving the objective of reconciliation, citing the hosting of meetings with the mainstream Forces for Freedom and Change (FFC-Central Council) in Cairo from July 24-25.
“We are not here to impose solutions or dictate terms to any party. Our leaders anticipate practical and feasible solutions and recommendations from us. They expect us to speak in unison to attain a common objective: to persuade the conflicting parties to immediately halt hostilities,” he explained.
The Egyptian Foreign minister underscored the prevailing uncertainty surrounding the Sudanese political process, with no discernible indications of a new trajectory.
He urged more efforts from Sudan’s neighbours to address the humanitarian crisis.
The two-day mechanism meeting held in the Chadian capital, N’jamena was tasked with discussing the executive measures required to address the repercussions of the ongoing war on the future and stability of Sudan, its unity and territorial integrity and ways to preserve its national institutions to prevent collapse.
Meanwhile, a South Sudanese official hailed the ministerial mechanism meeting in Chad, describing it as a step towards a lasting solution to the conflict in Sudan.
“The ministerial meeting here in Chad has been a success. It gave all the foreign ministers from the countries sharing the immediate borders with Sudan an opportunity to not only review the resolutions of the summit held in Egypt but evaluated the impact of the conflict in the region”, acting Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation minister, Deng Dau Malek told Sudan Tribune Tuesday.
This minister revealed that the meeting came up with three important resolutions which formed the basis of the roadmap they have proposed to end the conflict.
“The meeting ended successfully and it produced an important roadmap which has been divided into three parts”, explained Malek.
He added, “Part one is dedicated to direct and continuous engagement with the principal leaders of the parties to the conflict. Part two is for cessation of hostilities. Part three has been dedicated to supporting internal processes, dialogue and engagements of the communities involved in the communal violence as a result of this conflict”.
He said the ministerial meeting developed a plan of action to be implemented.
On July 13, a summit of Sudan’s neighbouring countries held Cairo assembled leaders from Egypt, Libya, Chad, Central African Republic (CAR), South Sudan, Eritrea, and Ethiopia. In that meeting, the leaders endorsed a communication mechanism overseen by the foreign ministers of the participating countries.
Since April 15, the conflict between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has caused displacement, death, injury and an unfolding humanitarian crisis. Reports of looting, attacks on public institutions and the occupation of private homes continue in the Sudanese, capital Khartoum, while clashes persist in four out of the five states of Darfur region.
(ST)