Sudan’s ruling National Congress Party (NCP) has officially declined to participate in a preparatory meeting with the opposition that was scheduled to take place over the weekend, a leading member said.

Last week, the African Union High Implementation Panel (AUHIP) in Addis Ababa invited the Sudanese government and opposition parties for a Sunday preparatory meeting regarding the National Dialogue.

Mustafa Osman Ismail, the party’s secretary on political affairs, said in a press statement that his party requested the meeting to be postponed.

He pointed out that the NCP will not attend any meeting with the opposition abroad before the elections that are schedule to take place in April.   

The leading NCP member further said they clarified their position to the AU mediators about their reservations not to attend the meeting.

The Sudanese Minister of Information Ahmed Bilal Osman recently told Radio Tamazuj that they didn’t receive an invitation with regards to their participation in a preparatory meeting in Addis Ababa.

“The invitation was extended to the NCP party alone without including its political allies. I think the ruling party alone will not go for this protracted negotiations,” he said, adding that the letter didn't clarify who is going to meet and who is going to negotiate.

Bilal said the invitation should have extended to the National Dialogue committee known as "7+7" that has been working on the roadmap for an inclusive national dialogue in Sudan.

Related:

Sudan's "7+7" committee member says it didn't receive invitation for national dialogue (27 Mar.)