Sudan’s Minister of Information Ahmed Bilal Osman has confirmed a ‘misunderstanding’ with the African Union (AU) envoy Thabo Mbeki, amid signs of tensions after Khartoum moved ahead with the launch of the Sudanese ‘National Dialogue’ without Mbeki’s attendance.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Sunday, Ahmed Bilal pointed to a misunderstanding with the the AU High Implementation Panel (AUHIP) for Sudan on facilitation of the national dialogue and invitation for a preparatory meeting involving all parties.
The head of the AUHIP Thabo Mbeki had been asked by the AU Security Council to organize a prepatory meeting for the National Dialogue in Addis Ababa, but this event never took place. Earlier this year, Mbeki accused Sudan’s ruling party of reneging on commitments to attend meetings in Addis Ababa about the preparatory meeting.
Last Saturday, Mbeki did not show up for the launch of the National Dialogue on Saturday in Khartom.
In an interview, Bilal said that Mbeki had not apologized for failing to attend the national dialogue conference on Saturday but he downplayed this saying he would come. “They did not apologize officially, because there should be a visit by Thabo Mbeki next Wednesday,” he said.
Bilal commented, “The insistence that the dialogue should be outside or through a preparatory committee was just a misunderstanding. There was a misunderstanding on the preparation.” He went on to say that the issue of the non-participating rebel groups should not cause delay to the process. “We think that those who are outside are armed movements only, but the other opposition parties are inside.”
However, he underscored that the the AUHIP is welcome to proceed with a procedural meeting abroad aimed at involving opponents of the National Dialogue if they wish to do so.
Separately, the state-run news agency SUNA contradicted Bilal, saying that Sudan’s foreign minister would travel to South Africa to meet Mbeki rather than Mbeki traveling to Khartoum. SUNA stated that this one-day visit by Ibrahim Ghandour would take place Wednesday.
“The Foreign Ministry Official Spokesman, Ambassador, Ali Al-Sadig said in a press statement that the Foreign Minister will discuss with Mbeki the ongoing national dialogue in Sudan and the role can be played by the AU Mechanism to make a success the Sudan’s national dialogue,” reads the report.
File photo: AUHIP Chairman Thabo Mbeki
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AU facilitators say Sudan’s NCP did not honour invitation to Addis meeting (2 Apr.)