Germany to facilitate peace efforts with Sudan rebels, parties

Germany has announced it will cooperate with Sudanese parties to facilitate a peace process in the country, aiming to achieve peace and a democratic transformation, after the completion of a two-day meeting with Sudanese rebels in Berlin. The Berghof Foundation, which organised the workshop, said in a statement on Thursday that the leaders of the Sudan Revolutionary Front (SRF) had committed to participate in any political process that leads to a comprehensive peace agreement in Sudan. They further agreed with the German facilitators to search for ways to end the fighting, and prepare for the National Dialogue process. The foundation for conflict research and peace policies added that it is committed to working with the SRF, Sudanese parties, and “a variety of key international partners such as the United Nations and the African Union”. The German Foreign Ministry expressed its readiness to support these objectives through its backing of the Berghof Foundation’s initiative. SRF prominent member Zakaria Mohamed Ali told Radio Dabanga that during the workshop, the rebels stressed the need to unify the armed movements, the political parties, and civil rights groups. He added that the rebel alliance is also committed to the process of an inclusive national dialogue and democratisation of the country. The AU High-Level Implementation Panel (AUHIP) scheduled negotiations with SRF delegates in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, this month. On Monday 30 September, the German embassy in Khartoum said the Sudanese authorities are aware of the meeting with the rebel groups. File photo: Leaders of the Sudan Revolutionary Front Related: Rebels discuss Sudan’s peace talks in Berlin (2 October 2014)