RNM leader arrives in Addia Ababa for discussions to activate national dialogue

August 24, 2015 (KHARTOUM) – The leader of the Reform Now Movement (RNM), Ghazi al-Attabani, has travelled to Addis Ababa on Monday at the invitation of the African Union High Implementation Panel (AUHIP) to hold consultations on ways for activating national dialogue.

According to a statement issued by his office director, Mahmoud al-Jamal, Attabani would consult with the AUHIP chief, Thabo Mbeki, on the future of the national dialogue and ways for making it more inclusive and effective.

“Attabni would be keen to meet the leaders of the political forces who are present in Addis Ababa to learn about their views on the future of dialogue and to consult with them on ways for achieving peace as a necessary condition for resolving all Sudan’s problems,” al-Jamal added.

Attabani expected that a delegation from the opposition parties participating in the dialogue would also fly to Addis Ababa at the invitation of the AUHIP to discuss the future of the dialogue.

A delegation from the Sudan Call force including the rebel umbrella Sudanese Revolutionary Forces (SRF) and the National Umma Party (NUP) has arrived in Addis Ababa on Saturday at the invitation of the AUHIP to discuss developments of the dialogue.

Following his arrival in Addis Ababa, the former presidential adviser met with Sadiq al-Mahdi and the members of the rebel delegations.

It is worth mentioning that the RNM pulled out of the dialogue last year blaming the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) for its refusal to implement a number of confidence building measures aimed at creating a conducive environment before the start of the process.

In his speech before the general assembly of the dialogue process on Thursday, the Sudanese president Omer al-Bashir said he is ready to declare a two-month ceasefire in Blue Nile, South Kordofan states and Darfur region and renewed his offer of amnesty for the rebels who are willing to join the national dialogue.

The political and armed groups opposed to the dialogue process refuse to join it under the current conditions asking to stop war and to ensure political freedoms.

Last April after the government’s rejection to participate in a pre-dialogue meeting, the opposition went to call for a new process under the auspice of the international community and brokered by the AUHIP.

(ST)