Sudan’s Minister of Information Ahmed Bilal Osman says the Sudanese government intends to reply to an invitation letter by the African Union to attend a consultative meeting with opposition groups this month in Addis Ababa.

Speaking to Radio Tamazuj, Bilal said his government will reply to the African Union mediation in accordance with its position that demands separation of the negotiations with armed movements and the National Dialogue.

He further said yesterday, "We are studying the invitation to reply to it this evening especially with regard to the negotiation. But with respect to the dialogue, the government is not concerned about it because the dialogue has its own mechanism."

The government official pointed out that it was not mentioned in the AU invitation who will participate in the consultative meeting.

Bilal said they will explain this point to the African Union. The government spokesman reiterated their position not to meet with political parties outside the country except armed movements and the National Umma Party (NUP).

Listen to the full interview with Ahmed Bilal on our Soundcloud. (Interview in Arabic).