Sudan FM calls on UN chief to put pressure on holdout groups

June 09, 2016 (KHARTOUM) – Sudanese Minister of Foreign Affairs has called on the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to intensify pressures on the armed groups and opposition parties to sign the African Union Roadmap Agreement for peace in Sudan.

According to a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday, Ghandour who is currently in New York briefed Ban Ki Moon on the outcome of the national dialogue and the efforts exerted to convince holdout opposition groups to join the peace process.

The Sudanese top diplomat further thanked the UN chief for welcoming the signing of the Roadmap Agreement and called on the international body to convince the armed groups and opposition forces to sign the AUHIP brokered plan to achieve peace and national dialogue in Sudan.

On 21 March, the African Union High-Level Implementation Panel (AUHIP) and the Sudanese government signed a framework agreement calling to stop war in Blue Nile, Darfur, and South Kordofan and to and to allow humanitarian access to the needy in the war affected zones ahead of the national dialogue process.

However, the opposition groups, Justice and Equality Movement (JEM), National Umma Party (NUP), Sudan People’s Liberation Movement -North (SPLM-N), and Sudan Liberation Movement-Minni Minnawi (SLM-MM) refused to sign the roadmap saying it excludes other opposition groups and acknowledges the government controlled process as as basis for the constitutional reform process.

Concerning UNAMID exit strategy from Darfur, the Minister of Foreign Affairs called on the United Nations to support its smooth withdrawal from Darfur as agreed by the United Nations, African Union and the government of Sudan.

“The implementation of Darfur Administrative Referendum and the visit of President al-Bashir to Darfur five states are clear indicators of peace in the region,” said Ghandour.

A tripartite working group has been set up in February 2015 to develop an exit strategy for the UNAMID from Darfur. The UN linked the full withdrawal of the peacekeeping operation from Darfur region to the signing of a ceasefire agreement where the protection of civilians can be ensured.

The hybrid mission has been deployed in Darfur since December 2007 with a mandate to stem violence against civilians in the western Sudan’s region.

The meeting between the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ibrahim Ghandour and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon has also discussed the situation in South Sudan and the outcome of the recent joint Sudan and South Sudan ministerial meeting in Khartoum.

Ban Ki-Moon hailed Sudan’s efforts to achieve peace and stability in South Sudan, the statement said.

(ST)