Sudan to protest against AUSPC’s meeting with opposition groups

August 25, 2015 (KHARTOUM) – The Sudanese government said it intends to lodge an official letter of protest to the African Union (AU) over meeting that took place between the AU Peace and Security Council (AUPSC) and the opposition alliance “Sudan Call” forces.

Armed and political opposition groups member of the “Sudan Call” met on Monday for the first time with the AUPSC and reiterated their request for a new dialogue process under the auspice of the international community and brokered by the African Union Mediation team.

Sudan’s ambassador to Addis Ababa and permanent representative at the AU, Osman Nafei, told al-Youm al-Tali daily newspaper on Tuesday Sudan’s refusal to the move, describing the meeting as a “dangerous” violation for the AU’s rules.

“We would officially protest [the move] which represents a violation for all norms and regulations within the AU,” he added.

Nafei pointed that AU’s rules and regulations provide for listening to states not opposition groups, stressing the move indicates that the AUPSC has “a credibility problem”.

“It [AUSPC] has violated the rules and listened to groups opposing the Sudanese government,” he said.

Sudan’s ruling National Congress Party (NCP) rejects the opposition’s demand for the participation of external parties in the national dialogue process. Khartoum accepted after huge regional pressure the facilitation of the dialogue by the AU High Implementation Panel (AUHIP).

MEETING WITH AUSPC BREAKTHROUGH

Meanwhile, the opposition National Alliance for Change (NAC) described the meeting between the AUSPC and the “Sudan Call” forces as “political and diplomatic breakthrough for the Sudanese opposition”.

In a statement extended to Sudan Tribune Tuesday, NAC said it supports any meeting that seeks to achieve unity of the opposition and reflects the injustices and human rights violations committed by the Sudanese government in regional and international forums.

It described the meeting between the AUSPC and the “Sudan Call” forces as “historic”, saying the move represents a political and diplomatic breakthrough for the opposition.

“The AUPSC listened to the opposition’s view for resolving the Sudanese crisis and its rejection for a dialogue that has created the enabling environment for achieving a comprehensive peace,” it said .

The statement praised the decision of the “Sudan Call” forces including the rebel umbrella Sudan Revolutionary Forces (SRF) and the National Umma Party (NUP) to expand the alliance as it possesses an effective programme to unify the opposition.

The newly formed group considered itself a member of the “Sudan Call” forces, saying that technical and organizational circumstances have prevented it from signing the declaration document.

“NAC adopted the “Sudan Call” declaration as a joint work programme and it is ready to implement it on the ground to achieve the higher national interest”, the statement reads.

The opposition group further supported the outcome of the meeting between the “Sudan Call” forces and head of the AUHIP, Thabo Mbeki which was held in Addis Ababa on Saturday, demanding strengthening the mandate of the mediation and involving international partners.

It should be mentioned that NAC is comprised of splinter factions from the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) and some other political parties.

Following their withdrawal from the national dialogue last February, the Just Peace Forum (JPF) headed by al-Tayeb Mustafa and the Reform Now Movement (RNM) led by Ghazi al-Attabani said they intend to join the NAC alliance however the move didn’t materialize.

(ST)