Sudan dialogue committee postpones meeting on confidence building measures

September 6, 2014 (KHARTOUM) – The national dialogue high committee postponed a meeting scheduled for Sunday as president Omer al-Bashir is expected to meet next the head of the African Union High Level Implementation Panel.

The 7+7 committee was expected to endorse this weekend a number of measures aiming to create a conducive environment in the country before the launch of the internal process. The release of political opponents was one of the important issues to be discussed in this meeting chaired by president Bashir.

On Saturday, the dialogue committee announced that the meeting will be held on Tuesday instead of Sunday.

Presidential assistant and member of the national dialogue committee, Ibrahim Ghandour, stated that the meeting has been postponed due to recent developments after the signing of the ‘Agreement on National Dialogue and Constitutional Process’ in Addis Ababa on 4 September.

He said the delay aims also to give more time to the different subcommittees to finalise tasks they are entrusted with.

In a meeting held on 31 August the 7+7 committee formed six subcommittees including external liaison and political detainees panels. The meeting also agreed to hold a meeting on 7 September 2014 to endorse the list of those who should be released in order to create a suitable atmosphere.

Ghandour further said that the internal liaison subcommittee, which is tasked with contact with the political parties refusing the current process, as well as two other panels dealing with social dialogue and comprehensive dialogue did not yet terminate their duties.

The agreement signed by the external liaison panel and the Paris Declaration group, Sudanese Revolutionary Front (SRF), and National Umma Party (NUP), provides that confidence building measures include the release of political detainees and sentenced detainees, particularly rebels arrested by the Sudanese government forces.

It also says that the political internal process will start after an agreement on rules procedures on which dialogue will be conducted.

The AUHIP leader is expected to meet president Omer al-Bashir on 10 September to discuss with him ways to implement this agreement, particularly the framework agreement which requires a meeting outside the country.

AFRICAN UNION WELCOMES DIALOGUE AGREEMENT

The Chairperson of the Commission of the African Union (AU), Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, welcomed in a statement released on Saturday the Agreement signed between the 7+7 of the national dialogue and the Paris Declaration group on the national dialogue and constitutional process of 4 September.

“The Chairperson of the Commission notes with satisfaction the constructive exchanges that the Sudanese stakeholders had on a number of issues that are crucial for the future of Sudan, including the peaceful resolution of the ongoing conflicts in Darfur, South Kordofan and Blue Nile; arrangement for cessation of hostilities; addressing the humanitarian situation; the protection of rights and freedoms; release of political detainees; and inclusivity in the National Dialogue. She encourages the parties to build on this achievement to create conditions conducive for the successful holding of the National Dialogue,” reads the communiqué.

(ST)