Sudan’s FM to meet Thabo Mbeki in South Africa
October 11, 2015 (KHARTOUM) – Sudan’s foreign minister Ibrahim Ghandour will travel on Wednesday to South Africa to meet with the head of the African Union High Implementation Panel (AUHIP) Thabo Mbeki, said the foreign ministry
The government-led national dialogue conference was inaugurated in Khartoum on Saturday amid large boycott from the major political and armed opposition.
The holdout armed and political groups say the government should implement an AU road map to facilitate the process and participate in pre-dialogue meeting to be organised by the regional body in Addis Ababa.
Last Thursday, the government reiterated its refusal to sit outside the country with political parties which are authorized to exercise their activities inside the country.
However, multiple sources say preparations are taking place to hold a meeting in Addis Ababa to allow rebel groups to join the internal dialogue. No details are yet disclosed about who will participate in the discussions.
Diplomatic Sudanese sources expected that Ghandour will protest against Mbeki’s invitation to the rebel groups to meet with the AU Peace and Security Council (AUPSC) last August.
This is the first time that Khartoum mentions Mbeki involvement in the organisation of a hearing for the opposition forces by the AU Peace and Security Council last August. Previously, Sudan accused the Ugandan ambassador at the regional body.
Following a three-day visit to Sudan last August, Mbeki briefed the AUPSC about his meeting with the President Omer al-Bashir telling them that the latter is determined to proceed with the internal process without the rebel groups and opposition parties.
On August 25th, the regional peace and security body set the first precedent in its history and received Sudanese rebel and opposition groups. During the hearing, the Sudan Call forces expressed their commitment for an inclusive and comprehensive process in line with African Union roadmap to facilitate the national dialogue.
According to the same sources, the AUPSC member states denied that they arranged the hearing which took place at the council’s headquarters in Addis Ababa.
Mbeki who is also tasked with the facilitation of the national dialogue process didn’t take part in the opening secession of the national dialogue conference on Saturday 10 October.
Several international actors question the role of the AUHIP in the solution of the Sudanese crisis saying it didn’t achieve progress in the file. However, the panel has the support of the German government which coordinates its efforts for peace in Sudan with it.
(ST)