Cairo, Egypt – Egypt has invited Sudanese civil society and political groups to a conference aimed at discussing ways to end the ongoing war in Sudan. An Egyptian foreign ministry press release announced that the meeting, scheduled for late June, seeks “to reach a consensus among the various Sudanese civil political forces on ways to build comprehensive and lasting peace in Sudan through a Sudanese-Sudanese national dialogue based on a purely Sudanese vision.”
The conference represents the latest effort by Sudan’s neighbours to address the devastating war that is now in its second year. Previous peace initiatives by the regional bloc IGAD (Intergovernmental Authority on Development), Ethiopia, and Kenya have so far failed to yield results.
A number of Sudanese civil and political groups are united under the Taqadum umbrella, chaired by former Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok. Last year, this alliance signed an agreement with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF)—a key party in the conflict—to manage civil and political affairs in areas controlled by the group. Hamdok also held a meeting with RSF commander Hamdan Daglo.
However, the Sudanese army has criticized these efforts, accusing Taqadum of attempting to ally with the rebels. The group denies these accusations, maintaining that its mission is to bring an end to the war and insisting that it does not support any side in the conflict.
This Egyptian-led conference marks a significant diplomatic attempt to bring together diverse Sudanese factions in hopes of fostering a dialogue that can lead to peace and stability in the war-torn nation.
