Sudanhorizon Publishes Statement of Third Consultative Meeting for Coordinating Peace Efforts in Sudan

Statement

The third consultative meeting on enhancing the coordination of peace initiatives and efforts in Sudan was held on 18 December 2024 in the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, which is currently chairing the African Union Summit. The meeting was chaired by His Excellency Mr. Mohamed Salem Ould Merzoug, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, where representatives of participating countries and organizations delivered their statements, including the Kingdom of Bahrain in its capacity as Chair of the Arab League Summit, the Republic of Djibouti in its capacity as Chair of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, the Arab Republic of Egypt, the European Union, the League of Arab States, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, which holds the rotating presidency of the African Union, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the United Nations, and the United States of America.

The meeting adopted the following decisions that aim to enhance the common approach to coordination and collective action in response to the crisis in Sudan.

1. The Consultative Meeting recalled the decisions of the first and second Consultative Meetings on Strengthening the Coordination of Peace Initiatives and Efforts in Sudan, held in Cairo on 12 June 2024 under the presidency of the League of Arab States, and in Djibouti on 24 July 2024 under the presidency of the Republic of Djibouti, and stressed the importance of organizing regular consultative meetings with the aim of exchanging views on the current status of strategic coordination related to the activation of good offices, mediation and peace initiatives aimed at addressing the conflict in Sudan and its prospects, while ensuring the integration of these initiatives in a way that contributes to achieving mutually reinforcing results;

2. The Consultative Meeting welcomed the invitation and hosting by the Government of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania for the meeting on 18 December 2024 in Nouakchott. The Consultative Meeting also expressed its thanks to the Mauritanian Government for its generous hosting of this meeting. It recognized the very important role played by His Excellency the President of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, Mr. Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani, in order to end the conflict in Sudan;

3. The Consultative Meeting expressed its deep concern about the ongoing hostilities in Sudan, and their devastating impact on the Sudanese people, exacerbating the already catastrophic humanitarian situation, including more than 11 million displaced persons and 3 million refugees, not to mention the food crisis.

4. The Consultative Meeting recalls Security Council Resolution 2736 of 13 June 2024 on Sudan, and strongly condemns the acts of violence in Sudan and all human rights violations, as well as the destruction of civilian infrastructure, including hospitals and schools, and the seizure of civilian buildings and homes and the forced displacement of their owners.

5. The Consultative Meeting commended the valuable efforts made by all participants in their various capacities to conduct ceasefire negotiations, protect civilians, and ensure unhindered access to humanitarian assistance, in addition to supporting efforts to launch a comprehensive political dialogue without exclusion leading to a transitional civilian government.

In this context, the participants expressed their appreciation for the initiatives and actions taken since their last meeting in Djibouti in July 2024, including,

1) the convening of the Allied to Advance Lives and Peace in Sudan Group in August 2024, in addition to the follow-up meetings organized by the United States of America, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the Government of Switzerland, with the participation of the Arab Republic of Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, the African Union, and the United Nations, which continued to strengthen the Jeddah Declaration and was held under the auspices of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia;

2) The meeting of political and civil forces held by the Arab Republic of Egypt on 6 and 7 July 2024,

3) The meeting of political and civil forces organized by the African Union High-Level Committee on Sudan and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) respectively in July and August 2024, in preparation for the intra-Sudanese political dialogue,

4) The holding of a ministerial meeting on Sudan by Germany, France, the United States of America, and the European Union in New York on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in September 2024;

5) The report of the Secretary-General of the United Nations on recommendations related to the protection of civilians in Sudan, which was presented to the members of the Security Council on 18 October 2024;

6) The extension of the mandate of the United Nations Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Sudan. They also commended all bilateral efforts made by the participants in this context, ensuring the achievement of unity of purpose.

6. The meeting stressed the unity of Sudan, the protection of its people, the preservation of its institutions, sovereignty and territorial integrity. It also stressed the urgent need to reach an immediate ceasefire in Sudan, with a view to reaching comprehensive and complete arrangements for the cessation of hostilities in the country by the month of Ramadan. It noted the importance of the two parties to the conflict fully committing to international law and international humanitarian law and implementing their commitments under the Jeddah Declaration (on the duty to protect Sudanese civilians) signed on 11 May 2023.

7. The meeting recognized that Sudan is a strategic priority for multilateral organizations and the countries present, and the prospects for the various initiatives of each of these parties were discussed. The participants reaffirmed their commitment to intensify coordination and strengthen its mechanisms, as well as to adopt mutually supportive measures, in a spirit of cooperation and unity of purpose, in order to restore peace and stability in Sudan.

In this regard, participants discussed upcoming activities, including;

1) The upcoming session of the UN Security Council on Sudan, which will be held at the ministerial level, and will address the issue of facilitating humanitarian access, including the establishment of humanitarian corridors.
2) The ongoing civilian consultations launched by the Office of the Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General for Sudan, which include a wide range of Sudanese civilians from across the country, including youth, women and civil society organizations, to discuss the implementation of the recommendations of the UN Secretary-General on the protection of civilians in Sudan, as well as the implementation of the Jeddah Declaration. The outcomes of these consultations will be central to the Personal Envoy’s upcoming contacts with the Sudanese parties;
3) The ongoing preparations by the Arab Republic of Egypt for the second meeting of political and civil forces in Sudan in Cairo;
4) The third meeting of political and civil forces, organized by the African Union High-Level Committee on Sudan and IGAD, as part of the preparations for the intra-Sudanese political dialogue.

It was agreed on the need to maintain and strengthen ongoing coordination between the various initiatives in a mutually supportive manner.

8. Participants reaffirmed that there is no viable military solution to the ongoing conflict, and stressed the importance of reaching a permanent ceasefire and moving towards a political settlement of the crisis, which would contribute to ending the suffering of the Sudanese people. They also reaffirmed their commitment to intensifying coordination and cooperation to restore peace and stability in Sudan.

9. The meeting adopted the attached working method of the technical-level working group of the Advisory Group, with the aim of exchanging information and ensuring coordination of efforts, a decision that came as a result of the second consultative meeting, where participants agreed to establish the working group. Participants agreed that it would start operating in January 2025, hosted by the United Nations.

10. The meeting stressed the importance of continuing to hold regular consultative meetings, and it was decided to hold the fourth consultative meeting, which will be hosted by the European Union in Brussels in early 2025, with the aim of maintaining collective commitment and strengthening joint action for peace in Sudan.

End of statement.

Annex: Working Methods of the Consultative Meetings Working Group

Introduction

A series of consultative meetings were held to enhance coordination of peace initiatives and efforts in Sudan, the first of which was held in Cairo on 12 June 2024 under the chairmanship of the Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, followed by a meeting in Djibouti on 24 July 2024 chaired by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Djibouti, and another meeting in Nouakchott on 18 December 2024 chaired by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Mauritania. Pursuant to the second communiqué issued on 24 July, the meeting decided to establish a technical-level working group of the Consultative Group with the aim of facilitating the exchange of information and ensuring coordination between the various efforts.

Membership

The membership of the Working Group shall consist of the same members participating in the consultative meetings, namely the multilateral organizations and the sponsoring countries of the initiatives. Membership includes the African Union, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), the European Union, the League of Arab States, the United Nations, Bahrain (chair of the Arab League Summit), the Republic of Djibouti (chair of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development), the Arab Republic of Egypt (sponsor of the Sudan Neighboring Countries Initiative as well as the meetings of political and civil forces in Cairo), the Islamic Republic of Mauritania (chair of the African Union Summit), the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the United States of America (sponsors of the Jeddah Platform and the Allied for Saving Lives and Peace in Sudan Group).

Working Method

The Working Group members meet once or twice a month on a reciprocal basis in Addis Ababa and New York, taking into account that hybrid meetings remain an option to ensure the attendance of all relevant members.
The Working Group members host meetings periodically on a rotating basis, with one representative from each entity to ensure a focused group of 11 people.
The Working Group members take note of the latest initiatives and activities implemented by the entities they represent within the framework of the peace efforts in Sudan, and update each other on any important developments.
Working group members exchange views on ways to enhance integration and harmony of efforts, by proposing collective actions that complement each other, with the aim of submitting them to their managers for discussion and approval.
Working group members propose any items to prepare for consultative meetings.