EU commends AUHIP for Sudan talks

The latest initiative of the African Union High-level Implementation Panel (AUHIP) to resolve Sudan’s internal conflicts has enhanced the prospects of a resolution, the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy said.

The talks in the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa are an important achievement in the pursuit of peace in Sudan and in laying the foundation for an inclusive and comprehensive national consultation, Federica Mogherini, EU High Representative, stated today.

“The Roadmap Agreement proposed by AUHIP outlines steps to end the conflicts in Darfur, South Kordofan and Blue Nile, and to establish humanitarian access, while offering a framework for a parallel political dialogue that would eventually incorporate all parties in Sudan.

“Progress on this initiative now requires the engagement of all parties. The 21 March signature by the Government of the Republic Sudan of the Agreement proposed by the AUHIP is a positive step forward.

“The EU looks to the remaining participants of the Addis meeting to fully engage in this process. Good faith on the part of all parties will be the essential to progress.

“In the meantime, violence continues, humanitarian needs are great and economic distress grows. Both government and armed opposition should extend their commitments made in late 2015 to unilateral cessations of hostilities.

“This would foster greater confidence among all the parties, give time to lay the ground rules for detailed negotiations and reinforce the efforts led by the AUHIP, supported by the European Union, to incorporate all political parties, movements and civil society into this vital political process.”

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon has also welcomed the Roadmap Agreement, signed on 21 March by the Sudanese government.

UHIP invited the Sudanese government, the holdout rebel movements and the National Umma Party (NUP) to Addis Ababa on 18 March, in an attempt to break the impasse on the peace negotiations on Darfur and the Two Areas (South Kordofan and Blue Nile) and the opposition’s participation in the National Dialogue.

On the second day of the “strategic consultative meeting”, Chief Mediator Thabo Mbeki presented the warring parties the text of a roadmap regarding the accords to be agreed on to achieve peace in the country and the participation in the Dialogue.

The government delegation and Mbeki signed the document. The opposition groups refused, accusing the AU mediator of siding with Khartoum.