AU, PM Discusses Situation in Sudan

ADDIS ABABA – Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, held an in-depth exchange of views on the situation in Sudan on Tuesday.

In a communique released after the meeting on Tuesday, the two welcomed the significant progress made in the negotiations between the Sudanese parties in conformity with the guidance given by the AU Peace and Security Council and the regional bloc IGAD.

Abiy and Mahamat also thanked the Sudanese people and all the national political and social actors for their positive interaction with the African mediation undertaken collectively by their respective Special Envoys.

The two “strongly encouraged the national actors in Sudan to redouble their efforts to overcome their differences in a spirit of understanding and mutual concessions”, reads the communique.

The also advised parties involved in the negotiation “to speed up the conclusion of the Political Agreement which is well within their reach, seizing this opportune time and critical moment without any delays”.

– New Protests announced – 

The meeting between Abiy and Mahamat came a day after Sudan’s main opposition coalition announced plans to step up protests this month to pressure the military council to hand over power to civilians.

The coalition also blamed the Sudan’s ruling military council for the death of nine people during Sunday’s demonstrations.

Madani Abbas Madani, a leader of the Forces of Freedom and Change (FFC), told reporters that “We will not abandon the path of political negotiation, and we will not drop the path of peaceful escalation”.

– Sudanese-owned process –

While commending the international partners for their constructive support of the African mediation process, Prime Minister Abiy and AUC Chairperson Mahamat re-emphasized the need for a Sudanese-owned peace process.

They stressed for it to be “free from any external interference and in full respect of the sovereignty and the will of the Sudanese people in the pursuit of a Political Agreement”.