Sudan opposition forces call for EU support

Sudanese opposition parties and armed rebel movements have urged the EU parliament to support their demands for a genuine comprehensive political solution to bring peace, and restore democracy in the country. A joint delegation of members of the rebel Sudanese Revolutionary Front (SRF, an alliance of Sudan’s main rebel movements) and opposition parties met with EU legislators on Wednesday in Strasbourg, France. The delegation requested from the EU to exert more pressure on Khartoum to achieve a comprehensive peaceful settlement, and a genuine process for a national dialogue that would lead to a democratic transformation, Sudan Tribune reported today. “The Sudanese armed and non-armed opposition parties are here today (Wednesday) with a sole message of a comprehensive peaceful settlement that leads to respect of fundamental freedoms, strict observation of human rights, equal citizenship, rule of law, accountability and genuine democratic transformation in the whole [of] Sudan,” said Jibril Ibrahim, the leader of the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) and SRF Deputy Chairman for Foreign Affairs, in a statement read on behalf of the rebel alliance and the opposition forces. Ibrahim, who led the SRF delegation, told Sudan Tribune that the alliance wants the EU to work jointly with the international community, to ensure humanitarian access to civilians trapped in war zones, to adopt a holistic approach for peace in Sudan, and support a “single mediation” instead of the two existing tracks for peace in Darfur, and South Kordofan and the Blue Nile. The rebel leader further stressed the need to press Khartoum to take the necessary measures to create a conducive environment for a “genuine national constitutional dialogue”. The representatives of opposition political parties also expressed similar demands for an EU-led international action in favour of peace and democratic transition in Sudan. During the meeting, several EU MPs expressed their dissatisfaction with the decision to abolish the position of EU Special Envoy to Sudan. They also vowed to support ongoing efforts to end conflict in Sudan, as well as support the democratic transition process in the country. News photo: EU MP Marie Christine Vergiat (C) who organised the meeting with the Sudanese opposition forces, National Umma Party’s Deputy President, Maryam El Sadig El Mahdi, JEM leader and SRF Deputy Chairman Jibril Ibrahim, as well as other participants, outside the EU Parliament in Strasbourg, France, 16 July 2014 (Sudan Tribune)