Germany hosts workshop for Sudanese rebels

September 30, 2014 (KHARTOUM) – The German government is organising a workshop for the rebel alliance, Sudanese Revolutionary Front, to discuss ways to achieve peace and democratic transition within the efforts led by the African Union mediation team.

The meeting which will be held in Berlin on 1st and 2nd October comes as the Sudanese government and Sudan People’s Liberation Movement –North (SPLM-N) commence talks on a cessation of hostilities agreement in the two states of Blue Nile and South Kordofan on 12 October, similar negotiations with Darfur rebel groups will begin on 15 October.

The purpose of the workshop is to support “peacemaking efforts in Sudan, particularly with a view to the peace processes facilitated by the African Union and United Nations,” said a statement released by the German Embassy in Khartoum on Tuesday.

The diplomatic mission further pointed out that Khartoum government is aware of “Germany’s efforts to support peace-building in Sudan”.

Following the failure of peace talks between the government and SPLM-N to reach a framework agreement and after consultations with president Omer al-Bashir in early September, the head of the African Union High-Level Implementation Panel (AUHIP) Thabo Mbeki announced that the two warring parties would meet to negotiate a truce ahead of the national dialogue process.

During a visit to Berlin last August, the presidential assistant Ibrahim Ghandour told Sudan Tribune they seek German support to bring rebel groups inside the country and take part in the national dialogue process.

Before Ghandour’s visit to Berlin, different German officials were in Khartoum to discuss ways to support peace in Sudan.

Sudanese officials believe that Germany, as the biggest political and economic power in Europe can play a leading role to bring peace in the east African country and breaks the international sanctions.

The embassy said that the workshop is organised by “the Berghof Foundation, a renowned German institution for mediation, and the SWP (Stiftung Wissenschaftund Politik) the Foreign Policy Think Tank of the German Government”.

The SRF rebels and the national dialogue committee signed on 4 September an agreement on the national dialogue and constitutional process where the signatories admit that a negotiated settlement is the “ideal solution to resolve the Sudanese problems”.

(ST)