Sudan briefs European diplomats on peace roadmap and Darfur referendum

April 20, 2016 (KHARTOUM) – Following a briefing for the African ambassadors, the Sudanese foreign ministry Wednesday held a second meeting for the European diplomats in Khartoum to inform them about the government’s position on the Roadmap Agreement for peace and national dialogue and the organization of Darfur administrative referendum.

During a long meeting with the European diplomats on Wednesday, the undersecretary for foreign affairs, Abdel Ghani al Naeem reiterated that the government’s keenness to achieve peace and stability pushed them to sign the Roadmap Agreement despite its reservation about some parts of the text

In a press statement released following the meeting, El Naeem pointed out that the agreement has been supported by the UN, AU, EU and the Arab league who considered it as a good base for peace in Sudan, he said.

Also He called on the EU and the European countries to support the government’s efforts for peace in Sudan, pointing out that it would empower the country to contribute to the regional stability

“Stability and security in Sudan would enhance the role of the Sudan and its efforts to address the problems that are currently worrying the international community and Europe in particular,” said the statement, adding “On top of those problems, the issue of illegal immigration”.

On Tuesday the foreign ministry reported the African Union Representative in Sudan told the African envoys to Sudan that an AU delegation was in Paris to meet the opposition groups and encourage them to join the road map.

However, different opposition sources told Sudan Tribune that there was no African Union delegation in Paris and they didn’t hear about them.

The chairman of Darfur peace follow-up office, Amin Hassan Omer, who attended the meeting, asserted that the administrative referendum was held in the best conditions, pointing out that the security situation is enhanced in areas that were under rebels’ control.

The Sudanese “Opposition hesitates to sign the Roadmap Agreement because they do not have an unified position and also because of their links with foreign circles from which they receive their directives,” he claimed.

Last March, the Sudanese government signed a plan for peace and democratic reforms proposed by the African Union mediation team led by Thabo Mbeki. But the opposition groups refused the Roadmap Agreement calling to include further groups and to not refer to Khartoum’s conference as basis for the national dialogue.

(ST)