The African Union (AU) and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) have escalated their consultations with Sudanese political forces, aiming to initiate a political process focused on achieving a political consensus and establishing new constitutional arrangements.
Meetings were held in the Egyptian capital, Cairo, on Monday and Tuesday, where representatives from the Freedom and Change Alliance, Democratic Bloc, National Accord Forces, National Consensus, and the Coordinating Committee for the Platform for Declaration and Change engaged with the AU and IGAD.
The Sudanese political forces stated that discussions with the AU and IGAD covered recent developments in Sudan and explored ways to end the war and attain sustainable peace. The AU and IGAD presented their vision for designing a unified negotiation platform and broadening the political process, while excluding the participation of the National Congress Party, formerly led by ousted President Omar al-Bashir, and its affiliates.
These forces called for addressing the root causes of the conflict, providing definitive solutions to end the ongoing hostilities between the military and the Rapid Support Forces, and ensuring justice for the victims. They emphasized the need for a democratic transition and the establishment of a professional, apolitical military.
Furthermore, Sudanese political entities that met with the African Union and IGAD on Monday highlighted that the meeting secured “principles that serve as the foundation for dialogue among Sudanese parties,” with an emphasis on commencing crisis resolution by implementing a ceasefire.
The meeting, according to a joint statement issued by these entities, underlined the necessity for all parties to adhere to what was agreed upon in the Jeddah Declaration. Additionally, they stressed the urgency of delivering humanitarian aid before launching the political process, reflecting the pressing need to address the humanitarian situation in Sudan.
