EU calls on opposition groups to join Sudan Roadmap Agreement

April 2016 (KHARTOUM) – The European Union (EU) on Tuesday has called on the Sudanese opposition groups to sign a roadmap for peace and democratic reforms brokered by the African Union High-Level Implementation Panel (AUHIP) and signed by Sudanese government on 21 March 2016.

Following a three day-meeting with a government delegation in the Ethiopian capital last March, three armed groups in Darfur and the Two Areas and the opposition National Umma Party (NUP) refused to ink the declaration of principles saying it recognizes a government controlled process as a basis for the national dialogue.

However, the EU in its statement welcomed the Roadmap Agreement saying it is “an important achievement in the pursuit of peace in Sudan and in laying the foundation for an inclusive and comprehensive national consultation”.

It further said that the roadmap offers “a framework for a parallel political dialogue that would eventually incorporate all parties in Sudan”.

”The EU looks to the remaining participants of the Addis meeting to fully engage in this process. Good faith on the part of all parties will be the essential to progress,” stressed the text.

The African Union and the United Nations have already called on the opposition groups to sign the roadmap.

Sudan People’s Liberation Movement – North which fights the Sudanese army in Blue Nile and South Kordofan states said they had been warned that the UN Security Council would back the Roadmap Agreement.

The opposition groups say besides acknowledging the internal dialogue process, the roadmap excludes the National Consensus Forces, an alliance of several opposition left parties which is a member of the ”Sudan Call” forces together with the NUP, SPLM-N, Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) and Sudan Liberation Movement faction of Minni Minnawi (SLM-MM).

The statement further called on the warring parties to stop the fighting and extend an unilateral cessation of hostilities declared last year.

“This would foster greater confidence among all the parties, give time to lay the ground rules for detailed negotiations and reinforce the efforts led by the AUHIP, supported by the European Union, to incorporate all political parties, movements and civil society into this vital political process”.

Sudanese government forces have launched a large scale military attack on the positions of the SPLM-N in the Two Areas. Reports from South Kordofan and Blue Nile states say the army is carrying out multi-front attacks and bombs on daily basis rebel controlled positions.

(ST)