Sudan rivals to hold dialogue to solve country’s crisis: Envoy

By Mohammed Amin
KHARTOUM, Sudan (AA) – Sudan’s military and civilians will hold dialogue on May 10 to discuss ways of resolving the country’s lingering political crisis, an African Union envoy said on Wednesday.

"We, as facilitators, are working to stop the deterioration that will lead to political, security and economic collapse in the country,” Mohamed Alhassan Lebatt told a press conference in the capital Khartoum.

He said all political groups in Sudan will take part in the planned national dialogue.

“The former ruling National Congress Party (NCP) will not participate in the dialogue, while the participation of other Islamists parties are still under discussion,” he added.

Alhassan said, “It’s important for the upcoming discussions to take some issues forward like new constitutional arrangements, the formation of a civilian government, including the selection of the prime minister, the formation of the transitional legislative assembly and the holding of proper and credible elections by the end of the transitional period,” he added.

Sudan has been in turmoil since Oct. 25, 2021 when the military dismissed Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok’s transitional government and declared a state of emergency, a move decried by political forces as a “military coup”.

Prior to the military takeover, Sudan was governed by a sovereign council of military and civilian officials tasked with overseeing the transition period until elections in 2023.