Sudanhorizon: Behind the Scenes of the AU Meetings

Al-Jakoumi: We Participated to Consolidate Position.
We Informed the AU Before Arriving that We Will Not Hold Joint Meeting with Tagaddum

Cairo – Sudanhorizon – Sabah Musa
The meetings organized by the African Union for the Sudanese political and civil forces in Addis Ababa over the past two days raised many questions about the usefulness of participation of the national forces supporting the Sudanese army in these meetings, given the fact that they would decline to sit in a meeting with the other forces affiliated to the coordination of civil forces (Taggadum) which has been divided into two wings, and also because of the objectives of these meetings, and finally the absence of a number of forces supportive of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF).
Conclusion of Consultations
The consultative meetings organized by the African Union High-Level Mechanism, which addressed the crises in Sudan on Friday and in which a group of Sudanese political forces and blocs participated, concluded with an exchange of views and ideas on ways to end the ongoing conflict in the country.
The Umma Party Appreciation
In an official statement, the National Umma Party expressed its appreciation for the effective role played by the African Union in unifying civil forces, praising the efforts made by the Union in supporting the Sudanese to reach a comprehensive political solution to the current crisis.
The party stressed that the African Union represents the basic platform through which consensus can be achieved between the various parties, contributing to ending the conflict and achieving peace. The party called for urgent steps, including a ceasefire, humanitarian assistance, and protection of civilians.
The party stressed the importance of setting a specific timetable for consultations and meetings that would result in the regular start of the political process. It also stressed that establishing peace and ending the war are top priorities to alleviate people’s suffering and ensure Sudan’s unity and sovereignty.
National Forces Refusal
For his part, Mohamed Sayed Ahmed Al-Jakoumi, coordinator of the national forces participating in the African Union and IGAD meetings, explained that their group refused to sign a joint statement with the “Sumud” group.
He said that Sumud’s position in support of the rebel Rapid Support Militia denies them the opportunity to sit with them at the negotiation table, let alone sign a joint statement with them.
Raising Questions
The African Union meetings came at a critical time when Sudan is experiencing a sharp division among the Sudanese political forces. In addition to the war that has now approached its second year, the determination of the forces supporting the Rapid Support Forces to form a parallel government preceded by a political charter exposes the country to further division.
This development raised many questions about the significance of the national forces’ participation in the African Union meetings as long as they do not sit with the other group and do not sign a statement with them and about the seriousness of the African Union itself in resolving the Sudanese crisis.
Refusing to Hold a Meeting
The coordinator of the national forces participating in the African Union meetings, Mohamed Sayed Sirr Al-Khatim Al-Jakoumi, explained for his part that they participated in these meetings, having confirmed to the Union that they would not sit for a meeting with the forces that support the Rapid Support Forces militia. Al-Jakoumi, head of the Sudanese Revolutionary Front, told Sudanhorizon that the national forces participating in the meetings addressed the African Union on February 6, in response to the invitations it sent them. They made it clear that they would not sit with these forces, as long as they were on the side of the militia and did not clearly condemn them.
He stressed that these forces, in their view and the view of the Sudanese people, represent the political arm of the rebel Rapid Support Forces, adding that despite this refusal, the Union sent them travel tickets, and explained that each party would be on its own, referring to the division that occurred in the coordination of the civil forces, Taggadum.
He said that the Union sent them the invitation in the name of Tagaddum, and that this was the same group that refused to sit with them in last July’s meetings, even though it had arrived in Addis Ababa at full cost from the AU, claiming that “our group comprises some remnants”, adding that in the Cairo meetings it sat with remnants such as Mubarak Al-Fadil and others.
Issues of Disagreement
Al-Jakoumi pointed out that the national group that participated was frank with the Union about 12 days before arriving in Addis Ababa, so it would not be surprising if we declined to sit with this group that he called the “aggressor group.”
He said, “As soon as we arrived, the AU divided us into two groups and met with each party separately,” explaining that these meetings aimed to respond to what was stated in our answers to the questions submitted by the Union.
He said, “The difference between us resides in 3 issues, the first being the issue of time and place of dialogue, the issue of the agenda, in addition to the parties to the dialogue, adding that we submitted our answers as well as the other group. He added that the other group wanted a joint statement with us, and we completely rejected it. He added, “because we do not want any rapprochement with them, and we told them that each party raises its vision to the union, and after that the union works to harmonize the two visions”, and he believed that unless the other group announces its complete rejection of all the violations committed by the Rapid Support Militia, and announces its siding with the national line and recognizes the legitimate state institutions and the Sudanese army, it is not possible that we will think of holding a meeting with them.

Confirming Positions

Al-Jakoumi explained that the African Union meetings this time were a continuation of the consultations that took place in the meetings last July and that they are not new. He said that there were six questions from the Union that we answered in writing and the other party did not answer because they differed about the place and time of the dialogue and the international community and other questions, stressing that his group went to the meetings this time to confirm positions and answer questions, indicating that everyone in the national forces received their invitation from the Union.
He said that according to the statement of the head of the African Union mechanism, Ambassador Mohamed bin Chambas, and the African Union Ambassador to Sudan, Mohamed Belaish, who confirmed that the invitation reached both Jaafar Al-Mirghani and Minni Arko Minawi, wondering about the objection of some to the outcomes of the meeting. He stressed that there were no outcomes to object to, adding that we, as national forces, issued a statement about the meeting in which we confirmed the July meetings and rejected dialogue with the forces allied with the Rapid Support Forces, explaining that there were no outcomes and that they were only consultations.

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