Volker Peretz, UN Resident Representative in Sudan, said yesterday at the opening of the dialogue in Sudan that he does not see a comprehensive political solution without the presence of all parties, and that the decision ultimately rests with the Sudanese.
“We want to make real change through dialogue and our role is to facilitate dialogue and the decision is up to the Sudanese,” Peretz added. The UN envoy said: “We are keen to see the results of the dialogue in the coming days after we have had extensive consultations over the past weeks to facilitate the dialogue.”
Direct talks between the Sudanese parties were launched with the assistance of a tripartite mechanism comprising the African Union, IGAD and the United Nations Mission (UNITAMS), in the presence of a large number of political forces and the absence of others. The agency said the talks were aimed at finding solutions to the Sudanese crisis and agreeing on how to manage the remainder of the transition period.
The Forces for Freedom and Change coalition, which includes political parties and protest movements, boycotted the meeting, arguing that the talks should lead to the establishment of a civilian democratic government. He also criticized the involvement of groups loyal to the army and Islamists who were allied with the government of former President Omar al-Bashir.
The coalition called for the implementation of confidence-building measures, including the release of detainees and an end to violence against demonstrators.
Earlier Wednesday, Peretz said that the continuation of the current situation and the increase in “disturbances” and instability could make it more dangerous to “pave the way for the return” of the former regime.
He continued: “Killing must stop now, displacement and displacement must stop, poverty and suffering must end and it is time for the Sudanese to get their share of development, democracy, justice, peace and stability and we in the United States of America and the entire international community are fully prepared help with this.”
The UN spokesman emphasized that “the political process cannot lead to a comprehensive, lasting and unanimous solution unless the Sudanese monarchy is fully and inclusive.”
In this regard, the Optical Council of Bej announced the cancellation of the sit-in, which began late last month after the resignation of the governor of the Red Sea in eastern Sudan.
According to the leader of the council, the resignation of the governor of the Red Sea ended the crisis.