Germany pledges to convince opposition groups to join Sudan’s dialogue
May 29, 2016 (KHARTOUM) – The Director for East Africa at the German Foreign Ministry Anke Feldhusen has renewed her country’s keenness to convince the opposition holdout groups to join Sudan’s national dialogue process.
The national dialogue committees chaired by President Omer al-Bashir have finished works late February. The recommendations are waiting the approval of the General Assembly of the Secretariat General.
The visiting German diplomat on Sunday was briefed by the secretary general of the national dialogue Hashim Ali Salem on the latest developments of the dialogue conference.
In press statements following Feldhusen’s meeting with Salem, German Ambassador to Khartoum Rolf Welberts said he is optimistic about the future of dialogue and peace in Sudan.
He underscored the rapid improvement of German-Sudanese relations, saying that Feldinsia was briefed by Salem on the outcome of the national dialogue conference.
Germany had signed a strategic partnership agreement with the AU High Implementation Panel (AUHIP) by the end of 2014 allowing it to work with the Sudanese parties to facilitate a process aiming to bring peace and achieve democratic transformation in the east African country.
Thanks to the German efforts, Sudanese opposition holdout groups, in a meeting held in Berlin last February, declared their readiness to participate the national dialogue preparatory meeting despite their previous reserves.
For his part, Salem said he briefed the visiting diplomat on the latest stages of the dialogue conference and the political parties, armed groups and national figures participating in it.
He pointed out that European countries became more interested in promoting relations with Sudan due to its important role in achieving security and stability in the region.
Officials from a number of European countries had recently visited the dialogue conference and were briefed by the secretary general on its latest developments.
They expressed their countries keenness to contact the opposition holdout groups to convince them to take part in the process.
Earlier this month, the British envoy to Sudan and South Sudan Matthew Cannell visited the dialogue conference and stressed his country’s strong support for the dialogue and promised to lead efforts to convince the holdout opposition to join it.
Hold out opposition refuse to take part in the conference before the creation of a conducive environment and the implementation of specific confidence-building measures.
(ST)