'Friends of Sudan' warn against efforts to derail peace process

Sudan's transitional government and rebel groups also took part in the meeting, held via videoconference, along with representatives from South Sudan, which is playing a key role as a mediator in the peace talks.

The Sudan flag. (AFP)

Sudan's transitional government and rebel groups also took part in the meeting, held via videoconference, along with representatives from South Sudan, which is playing a key role as a mediator in the peace talks.

Members of the international community have warned against attempts to derail the peace process in Sudan, after a rise in deadly violence in the East African country in recent weeks.

Peace negotiations are ongoing between Sudan's government and rebel groups to bring stability to the restive regions of Darfur, Blue Nile and South Kordofan.

For years, rebels have accused the government of marginalising the regions and fought against the forces of former president Omar al-Bashir, who was ousted in April 2019 by the army under pressure from a mass protest movement.

A transitional government took office in August last year, with Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok making peace in the three regions a priority. 

Over 20 countries and international organisations, including the US and the European Union, expressed support for Hamdok's government at a meeting in Riyadh Wednesday, according to a declaration carried by the official Saudi Press Agency and cited by Sudanese local media.

They also expressed "a willingness to impose consequences on all spoilers to the peace process", without elaborating.

Sudan's transitional government and rebel groups also took part in the meeting, held via videoconference, along with representatives from South Sudan, which is playing a key role as a mediator in the peace talks.

"There are no military solutions to Sudan's internal conflicts," the statement said, adding that another "Friends of Sudan" meeting was planned for October.

Recent weeks have seen deadly violence in several parts of the country, including the war-torn Darfur region, South Kordofan and the Red Sea city of Port Sudan.

The meeting followed a separate conference in Berlin in June, at which donors pledged $1.8 billion for the country.

source: https://www.newvision.co.ug/news/1524673/friends-sudan-warn-efforts-derail-peace-process