Intern’l Expanded Mechanism urges for inclusive political dialogue in Sudan 

Following the latest Expanded Mechanism for the Sudanese crisis meeting, held on December 4 at the invitation of the African Union (AU) Commission in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, participants agreed to adopt the mechanism as a tool to coordinate international action on Sudan.

The countries and international and regional organisations participating in the meeting agreed that the Expanded Mechanism will hold its meetings at least once a month at the invitation of the AU to avoid the fragmentation of international and regional efforts and initiatives to address the crisis in Sudan. 

The meeting called for the group to adopt practical steps within the framework of efforts to achieve peace and find a sustainable solution to the Sudanese crisis. The mechanism called on the AU and Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) not to delay in implementing their plan to call for an inclusive political dialogue to reach a permanent cessation of hostilities and the formation of a transitional civilian government. 

Attendees stressed their support for the roadmap prepared by the AU and IGAD to reach a comprehensive political dialogue to be decided by the Sudanese and with the support of the members of the expanded mechanism and called on the member states of the mechanism to provide the necessary financial, technical and logistical support to support the political process. 

Representatives of the AU Commission attended the meeting, along with IGAD, United Nations, League of Arab States, European Union, and many other state representatives from around the world.

The IGAD summit also approved the Declaration of the Expanded Mechanism on the Crisis in Sudan, issued on December 7, in which the 28 members, including the AU, the Arab League, EU, UN, USA, Russia, China, and several Arab and African countries, stated that there can be no sustainable military solution to the crisis in Sudan.

On April 20, the Expanded Mechanism on the Sudan Crisis was established at the Ministerial Special Session on Sudan, convened by the AU Commission Chairperson, Moussa Faki Mahamat. Its purpose is to coordinate and harmonise regional, continental, and international efforts in support of a peaceful resolution of the conflict to end the suffering of the Sudanese people.

The mechanism argues that “only an inclusive, representative, Sudanese-owned and Sudanese-led dialogue among all Sudanese stakeholders, including the belligerents, other armed movements, political parties, civil society organisations, women and youth groups, resistance committees, labour unions and professional associations, traditional leaders, and academics, can lead to a peaceful and sustainable solution to the crisis.”

In an assembly session on the situation in Sudan that took place in Djibouti on Saturday, the member states of the Horn of Africa Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) agreed to redouble efforts to achieve a peaceful resolution to the ongoing war between the SAF and RSF. Sudanese political parties and groups, civil society organisations, and rebel movements all welcomed the outcomes of the IGAD summit in Djibouti on Saturday.

Hours after the communiqué was released on Saturday, the FA Ministry issued a statement denying El Burhan’s agreement to meet with Hemedti without conditions.