The Government of South Sudan on Tuesday commenced mediating a consultative meeting between the Sudanese Forces for Freedom and Change (FFC) Coalition in Juba to find a solution to the Sudanese crisis.
Dr. Dhiu Mathok, the rapporteur of the South Sudan mediation committee, explained in a press statement after the initial meeting that the talks followed an invitation by President Salva Kiir Mayardit to all Sudanese political forces to find a peaceful solution to the political crisis and resultant war in Sudan.
He said the ultimate mission is to end the ongoing war between the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) that has left tens of thousands dead, and others displaced, and is destroying the country.
“The South Sudan mediation team held a meeting last month with the armed movements that signed the Juba Peace Agreement so now it is the turn of the Forces for Freedom and Change (FFC),” Mathok said.
He stressed that the government of South Sudan is fully prepared to hold meetings with all political forces in Sudan except for the National Congress Party (NCP).
Mathok also revealed that the Government of South Sudan has a new plan to hold a consultative meeting with the SAF and RSF in Juba to reach a ceasefire in Sudan.
Meanwhile, Engineer Omar Al Digair, the head of the FFC delegation, said that they came to Juba in search of a solution to the Sudanese crisis that escalated into an all-out war last April and has since morphed into a humanitarian disaster.
He stressed that South Sudan is an important country because of the relationship between the people of South Sudan and the Sudanese people. “We have great confidence that any role played by South Sudan can find a solution to the Sudanese crisis,” Al Digair said. “Today’s (Tuesday) meeting with the mediators focused on stopping the war to open humanitarian corridors to deliver aid to those in need.”
He added that there is a need for dialogue between the belligerent parties instead of war and thanked President Kiir for the peace initiative.
Al-Digair told the press that the Forces of Freedom and Change have been in communication with both the SAF and RSF to demand social justice and the unification of the army.