The intra-Sudanese dialogue process would be launched next week, announced the facilitators, as the continued detention of 70 political activists and use of violence cast doubt over the FFC’s participation.
On Wednesday the three facilitators of the UNITAMS, African Union and IGAD met with the Sovereign Council’s military committee including deputy head Mohamed Hamdan Daglo (Hemetti), Shams al-Din Kabbashi, and Gabir Ibrahim.
“The meeting was constructive and tackled issues related to the Intra-Sudanese direct talks which are expected to launch next week,” said the trilateral mechanism in a statement released after the meeting.
“The talks are aimed at restoring constitutional rule and fulfilling the Sudanese people’s aspirations to a democratic transition and the building of (a) new Sudan,” further added the facilitators.
The announcement comes as the head of the Sovereign Council Abdel Fattah al-Burhan declared the end of the state of emergence and the release of all the political detainees on May 29.
However, the Emergency Lawyers stated that more than 70 detainees are still held in the prisons of Soba, Al-Huda and the White Nile despite the official lift of the state of emergency and the decision to release political activists.
The lawyers further said in a separate statement that the security forces arrested five activists from the Al-Sahafa neighbourhood and their whereabouts are unknown.
The security forces also opened fire to disperse protesters who gathered outside the Khartoum International Exhibition after reports that Hemetti will inaugurate it.
In their statement, the facilitators called on the Sudanese authorities to avoid the use of violence against the expected protests on June 3, to commemorate the third anniversary of the bloody attack on the pro-democracy sit-in outside the army headquarters in 2019.
“This is to ensure the conducive conditions for a political process in Sudan. The Trilateral also calls on all parties to uphold peaceful means in commemorating the event,” stressed the statement.
Conducive environment is a sine qua non condition for FFC participation
Sudan’s former ruling coalition stressed that the confidence-building measures including the end of violence, the release of political detainees and the effective lift of the state of emergency are essential for their participation in the political process.
Wagdi Salih an FFC prominent leader told the Sudan Tribune that the coalition’s participation depends on the full implementation of the confidence-building measures.
“Also, they should Stop all regressive decisions made after the coup to cancel the decisions of the Empowerment Removal Committee,” said Salih who is a member of the suspended body tasked with the dismantlement of the former Islamist regime.
In turn, the Sudanese Communist Party (SCP) reiterated its refusal to participate in the direct dialogue facilitated by the tripartite mechanism.
SCP Central Committee member Siddiq Youssif told the Sudan Tribune that “they will not take part in any direct dialogue with the Trilateral Mechanism until the fall of the coup regime and the achievement of justice.”
Source: Sudan Tribune