Khartoum, September 05 (Darfur24)
The Sudanese-Sudanese Dialogue Preparatory Committee will begin official consultations with political forces on Saturday as part of efforts to establish a political path to resolve the country’s conflict, committee spokesman Osman Mirghani said.
The 19-member committee launched the Sudanese-Sudanese Dialogue Initiative in Khartoum last Sunday. The initiative aims to conduct preliminary consultations with political, civil and community groups and create conditions for a broader dialogue.
Mirghani told Darfur24 that the committee had not yet begun contacting political forces because it was finalizing a schedule for consultations with the various groups.
“We will begin communicating with the political forces this Saturday,” he said.
The Democratic Bloc Alliance welcomed the initiative but called for mechanisms that ensure broad participation, efficiency and a greater chance of success.
Muhammad Zakaria, the alliance’s official spokesman, told Darfur24 that the Democratic Bloc would present its position on the Dialogue Preparatory Committee in the coming days.
However, Minni Arko Minawi, another Democratic Bloc leader, described the proposed dialogue as “a prelude to the division of the country.”
Other political forces have announced plans to boycott the initiative, arguing that it does not adequately address the worsening humanitarian crisis. The groups say priority should instead be given to a ceasefire and the establishment of humanitarian corridors to protect civilians and facilitate aid delivery.
Meanwhile, Sovereignty Council Chairman and army commander Abdel Fattah al-Burhan has pledged legal, political and security guarantees for dialogue participants. He also announced plans to drop charges against political leaders and prevent criminal proceedings against participants over their involvement in the dialogue.
The initiative comes amid continued disagreement among Sudanese political forces over the timing, scope and conditions of a political process while the war between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces continues.