By William Madouk
Sudan’s Forces for Freedom and Change (FFC), calls for an immediate cessation of hostilities and genuine peace talks to resolve the root cause of conflict.
Members the political party on Wednesday concluded a joint consultation meeting in Juba where the made the call.
In a meeting attended by President Kiir, the Sudanese delegation discussed diplomatic end to the raging conflict.
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ramadan Mohammed Abdellah Goc, read a communiqué on the meeting stating that Sudan’s Forces for Freedom and Change agreed to instant silencing of guns.
“After a deep and extensive discussion that took place in the office of President Salva Kiir, we agreed on the necessity of an immediate ending to the war in Sudan by addressing the root causes of the crisis and the reasons that led to its outbreak,” said Goc.
Sudan’s Forces for Freedom and Change also backed President Kiir’s effort to bring lasting peace to Sudan.
“We, the Forces for Freedom and Change, welcomed the pivotal role South Sudan is playing to halt conflict in Sudan, noticing that we are one people in two countries,” the FFC noted in their statement.
According to the Sudanese delegation, President Kiir affirmed that the war in Sudan “prevents us from sleeping and resting in Juba”, adding that South Sudan is more knowledgeable of Sudanese matters than others.
They also agreed that President Kiir should invite the Civil Democratic Alliance, including other Sudanese stakeholders, to Juba for further consultation in order to find lasting peace in Sudan.
“Acknowledge the importance of preserving the sovereignty and unity of Sudan’s land and resources, rejecting whatever dismantles Sudan and prolongs war or turns it into communal conflicts,” the communiqué added.
The Sudanese delegation also called for the harmonization of mediation efforts for a realistic peace.
“We agreed to harmonize all various mediation initiatives to complement the Jeddah initiative, IGAD, the African Union, and other neighboring countries regionally and globally. Not only will that bring peace, but it will also rebuild the environment for peace and stability,” they stressed.
Furthermore, the FFC asserted that it’s only through political processes that would halt the war and create democratic civil rule based on what parties would agree on in a time-bound peace agreement.
The presidential advisor on security affairs, Mr. Tut Gatluak, who is also the chair of the South Sudan Mediation Committee, said earlier that the meeting was preparation for an inclusive peace process in Sudan.
Also, the head of the Sudanese delegation, Omer Al-Diger, said, “We came to Juba searching for a solution for the Sudanese crisis that erupted on April 15, which created a humanitarian catastrophe and put the entire country on the brink of collapse.”
This month, leaders from the regional bloc, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), fully supported President Salva Kiir Mayardit in his efforts to convince the warring parties in Sudan to end the ongoing bloodshed.
The IGAD leaders’ backing of President Salva Kiir’s effort to mediate peace in Sudan came as a change of tune from the IGAD mediation process.
Kenyan President Dr. William Ruto leads an IGAD mediation committee, referred to as the Quartet Group, announced in June during the 14th Summit of IGAD held in Djibouti.
The committee is headed by Kenya and deputized by South Sudan, with the membership of Ethiopia and Somalia. It was tasked with mediating an end to Sudan’s war.
But Sudan’s government under General Al-Burhan rejected Kenya’s spearheading, accusing President Ruto of supporting the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), allegations he denies.
Sudan has been reeling after an armed conflict between the army and Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces erupted over control of the country.
Since then, at least 9,500 people have died, and more than 5.3 million have been displaced.