Sudan’s NCP welcomes efforts to convince opposition to sign peace roadmap
June 12, 2016 (KHARTOUM) – Sudan’s ruling National Congress Party (NCP) Sunday welcomed the “positive efforts” backing the government-signed Roadmap Agreement saying it provides the best way to stop war and achieve peace in the country.
“We welcome all the positive efforts reiterating that the Roadmap Agreement is the ideal solution for stopping war and achieving peace,” said a statement extended to Sudan Tribune on Sunday.
It further called on all parties that “are still sheltering behind a gun to consider the suffering of civilians and sign the Roadmap to begin phases of peace to stop war and end the suffering of civilians”.
The holdout opposition groups refused last March to sign the peace plan saying it excludes important opposition groups, acknowledges the internal dialogue process and ignores important confidence building measures such as ensuring political freedoms and release of political prisoners and detainees.
The NCP has described the ongoing political and societal dialogue in the country as the wider and comprehensive framework to create permanent and constructive solutions to the country’s political crisis.
The statement further said that the African Union brokered Roadmap Agreement remains the best way to stop war and achieve peace.
The NCP has meanwhile commended “the efforts of the facilitators, the African Union, the AUHIP and the chief mediator Thabo Mbeki” for his efforts to achieve peace in the country.
NUP leader agreed recently with AUHIP chairman Thabo Mbeki on the need to meet the armed groups and to discuss the outstanding matters.
It was also reported that the U.S. Special Envoy Donald Booth held a series of contacts with the rebel groups to encourage them to ink the peace plan.
(ST)