Military junta and Alliance for Freedom and Change meet for second time

Members of the Transitional Military Council and the Alliance for Freedom and Change met for the second time on Thursday evening to try to reach an agreement. Main topic of the direct negotiations was the composition of a Sovereign Council, that will rule Sudan during an interim period until free elections will be held.

On Wednesday evening, the two sides discussed in a first session issues related to creating a climate conducive for dialogue, such as the release of detainees, the return of the internet, an independent investigation into the violent dispersal of the Khartoum sit-in on June 3, and a written confirmation of what was previously agreed on. The AFC has set a 72 hours time limit for the negotiations to end that expires on Friday.

African Union mediator Mohamed Lebatt told reporters that the two parties agreed in the first session on a number of issues, foremost the release of political prisoners associated with the recent events. He indicated that both sides had decided to continue their meetings on Thursday evening to discuss other issues.

SRF

The Sudan Revolutionary Front (SRF, a coalition of armed movements), chaired by Minni Minawi, called for “the allocation of 35 per cent of the federal authority” (the Sovereign Council, the government and the legislative branch) to peace building during the transitional period. In that way state structures and civil institutions can be rebuilt, and refugees and displaced people can return.

Minawi also called on the Sudanese political forces “to urgently meet in order to formulate an unified vision on how to accomplish a comprehensive civil transition that takes into account the issues of peace and the lessons from the historical injustices”.

Return

The statement stressed the keenness of the SRF, whose leaders almost all live abroad, to effectively participate in rebuilding the country from within. This requires its members to return to Sudan, “to make a number of arrangements to stop the war, agree on a real cease-fire, and launch a negotiation processes to reach a final peace agreement reaping the fruits of revolution”.

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Our editorial independence means that we can continue to provide factual updates about political developments to Sudanese and international actors, educate people about how to avoid outbreaks of infectious diseases, and provide a window to the world for those in all corners of Sudan. Support Radio Dabanga for as little as €2.50, the equivalent of a cup of coffee.