At the African Union (AU) headquarters in Addis Ababa, a five-day meeting commenced on Wednesday, July 10, aimed at initiating an inter-Sudanese political dialogue. This meeting, a joint initiative by the AU and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), seeks to lay the groundwork for a dialogue among Sudanese civil parties to reach a consensus on resolving the conflict in Sudan.
Representatives from the AU and IGAD opened the meeting with a series of speeches, praising the inclusivity of this preparatory session. However, several seats remained empty among representatives of Sudanese political parties and civil society. The goal is to establish a transition towards a democratic civilian regime in Sudan. Yet, some key participants were notably absent.
The most significant absentee was Taqqadum, the broadest and most representative civil society opposition organization, led by Abdallah Hamdok. The former Prime Minister did not attend the meeting.
Ibn Chambas, the head of the AU High-Level Panel on Sudan, acknowledged the difficulty in gathering all parties for this initial meeting: “We are disappointed by Taqqadum’s absence, but we have kept communication channels open. We will organize further meetings with Taqqadum and any other group we identify as absent. Sudanese parties must sit together and address the root causes of this persistent conflict. Since independence, there has been no lasting peace in Sudan.”
Taqqadum, in a statement, lamented the lack of prior consultation before the meeting. They expressed concern over the presence of supporters of former President Omar al-Bashir’s regime, whom they regard as anti-democratic and opposed to peace.
Despite some absences, other significant forces were present, including the Forces for Freedom and Change (FFC), the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North, and members of the resistance committees. The meeting is scheduled to continue for four more days, aiming to determine possible dates and locations for launching the political process.
This AU-led initiative represents a crucial step towards ending the longstanding conflict in Sudan and paving the way for a peaceful and democratic future.