The African Union High Implementation Panel (AUHIP) has invited the Sudanese government and opposition parties for a preparatory meeting on the National Dialogue in Addis Ababa on Sunday.

The AUHIP reportedly sent an invitation to both parties to participate in “consultations on the process and procedural matters related to the National Dialogue."

Members of Troika countries welcomed the preparatory meeting on the National Dialogue scheduled to take place in Addis Ababa on Sunday.

But the opposition National Consensus Forces rejected to participate in the preparatory meeting.

NCF rapporteur Tariq El Amin told Radio Tamazuj that they didn’t mandate the Sudanese Revolutionary Front (SRF) and the National Umma party (NUP) to attend the preparatory meeting on their behalf.

“They are representing themselves, according to our opinion they shouldn’t participate” he said. “We cannot go for the meeting, while the head of the National Consensus Forces Farouq Abu Issa is being tried politically.”

Amin stressed that they previously demanded a conducive atmosphere for the National Dialogue.

Earlier this week, Secretary General of the SPLM-N rebels Yasser Arman accused the Khartoum government of delaying the preparatory meeting on the National Dialogue.

Speaking to Radio Tamazuj from Paris, Arman said that his side was not received any invitation to an agreed upon preparatory meeting.

Arman also accused President Omar al-Bashir of "deceiving" the political parties and international community with the National Dialogue.

“He is actually buying time to go ahead with elections,” Arman charged.

Related:

Sudan rebel leader Arman accuses Khartoum of obstructing National Dialogue (24 Mar.)