Sudanese Political Forces Protest UN Envoy-Janjaweed Government’s Meeting
The Personal Envoy of the United Nations (UN) Secretary-General to Sudan, Ramtane Lamamra, said they are working to influence international positions that play a role in the ordeal facing Sudan.
In a press statement after meeting with the Forces of Freedom and Change – Democratic Bloc, Lamamra said: “We are working to influence the international positions that have a role in the ordeal of the Sudanese people and the abnormal situation imposed on them in terms of security and stability.”
He explained that he discussed with the Democratic Bloc the UN’s efforts to protect civilians and accelerate initiatives to resolve the crisis in response to the aspirations of the Sudanese people.
He added: “We must exert more efforts so that the third year of the war does not become something normal. We need to create a qualitative shift on the ground to end the suffering of the Sudanese people.”
Lamamra noted that the United Nations is part of the ongoing international mobilization to improve the situation in El-Fashir, North Darfur State.
Lamamra arrived in Port Sudan on Sunday after a visit to Nairobi, Kenya, where he met with the Civil Democratic Alliance of the Forces of the Revolution “Sumood,” the Sudan Liberation Movement led by Abdel-Wahid Mohammed Nur, and the “Ta’sees” Alliance affiliated with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
The Democratic Bloc is considered one of the main allies of the army. It includes armed movements fighting against the Rapid Support Forces, among them the Sudan Liberation Movement led by Darfur Regional Governor Minni Arko Minnawi.
Minnawi stated that the Democratic Bloc’s meeting with Lamamra came within the framework of the envoy’s tour to discuss the UN’s efforts toward achieving peace and improving the humanitarian situation.
He pointed out that the meeting focused on the situation in besieged cities, particularly El-Fashir, in addition to Dilling and Kadugli in South Kordofan, and Babnousa in West Kordofan.
He noted that the envoy called for rescuing El-Fashir as soon as possible and expressed his keenness on Sudan’s unity and sovereignty.
For his part, Democratic Bloc spokesperson Mohamed Zakaria said the meeting discussed the principles of a comprehensive solution with the participation of all parties, except those accused of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity.
He explained that the bloc proposed a two-track dialogue: the first political, involving political, civil, and community forces; and the second limited to security, based on the Jeddah Declaration, which is specific to the Sudanese government.
Zakaria stressed that the role of other actors must be confined, in the dialogue, to facilitation, without negative interference in Sudanese affairs, calling on the African Union to lead the process, with Egypt and Saudi Arabia playing roles due to their neighborhood and positions.
He affirmed that the Democratic Bloc is open to sitting with all Sudanese stakeholders.
The African Union, alongside the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), the Arab League, the United Nations, and the European Union, is planning a new round of consultations with Sudanese political forces in October.
These consultations aim to enhance Sudanese unity, prepare the ground for an inclusive Sudanese-Sudanese dialogue, and facilitate the political transition to a civilian-led constitutional system.
Zakaria also said the Democratic Bloc expressed concern to Lamamra about his meetings that contradict the UN’s declared position of not recognizing any parallel government.