Six Participants Unable to Travel to Berlin Conference Due to Visa Issues

Cairo – Sudanhorizon – Sabah Mousa

Participants in the preparatory meeting for the Berlin Conference are set to depart this Monday evening for Germany, following the conclusion of their meetings yesterday in Addis Ababa, to attend the conference scheduled for Wednesday.

According to Sudanhorizon sources, six participants were unable to travel—three from the Coordination of National Forces and three representing civil society—due to incomplete travel procedures and failure to obtain entry visas to the German capital.

The head of the Coordination of National Forces, Mohamed Sayed Ahmed Al-Jakoumi, stated in remarks to Sudanhorizon that three representatives from the coordination were unable to secure visas, including Saad Bahr El-Din. He suggested that this measure “may be intentional,” attributing it to shortcomings in organizing invitations and coordination by the five-party mechanism overseeing the conference, which includes the African Union, United Nations, Arab League, European Union, and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development.

Al-Jakoumi added that they have contacted the five-party mechanism to explore the possibility of replacing the coordination’s representatives with others who could join the conference from London.

In a related context, Al-Jakoumi noted that the draft outcomes of the preparatory meeting met the aspirations of Sudanese citizens. He stated that the coordination rejected any equivalence between the army and the Rapid Support Forces militia, and emphasized the need to recognize the Sudanese state and its institutions. He also pointed out that the “Somoud” group proposed measures related to banning the Islamic Movement and its affiliated entities, while the coordination called for banning the establishment of such fronts, considering “Somoud” to be one of them.

Al-Jakoumi affirmed that the conference will not undermine Sudan’s sovereignty or unity, stressing the importance of establishing a mechanism to monitor its outcomes and ensuring that aid coordination is conducted through Sudanese state institutions.

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