The AU's Second Consultative Forum meeting on the Sudan
The second meeting of the Sudan Consultative Forum took place on 6th November at the African Union Commission Headquarters in Addis Ababa. The meeting was co-chaired by Ambassador Ramtane Lamamra, the AU Peace and Security Commission chairman, and Mr. Alain Le Roy, the UN Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations. Also present was the Chairperson of the AU High-Level Implementation Panel on Sudan, former South African President, Thabo Mbeki. Representatives from countries neighbouring Sudan, permanent members and African non-permanent members of the UN Security Council, of IGAD, the League of Arab States, the Islamic Conference, the European Union and from Canada, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Japan and Sweden also attended the meeting. The Sudan Consultative Forum was established following a decision of the AU Peace and Security Council to provide coordinated international support to the ongoing peace processes in Sudan, its democratic transformation, the implementation of the remaining provisions of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) and the search for an inclusive agreement to promote lasting peace, justice and reconciliation in Darfur. Its first meeting was held in Khartoum in July.
This second meeting heard presentations from the Sudanese Parties as well as briefings from representatives of the United Nations Mission in the Sudan (UNMIS), the Joint AU-UN mission in Darfur (UNAMID), the AU/UN Joint Mediator, and the African High Level Implementation Panel on the Sudan (AUHIP). Ambassador Berhane Gebre-Christos, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia, the chair of IGAD, made a statement emphasizing the critical importance of Sudan to the region, the continent and the international community. Acknowledging the bold and decisive measures taken by the parties to implement the CPA, Ambassador Berhane stressed the importance of encouraging both parties to resolve all outstanding and critical issues in the short time available, in order to avoid the disastrous consequences of failure. The meeting noted the critical juncture at which the Sudan finds itself. It encouraged the Sudanese Parties to demonstrate the exceptional leadership and commitment required to resolve the outstanding issues including security, Abyei and border demarcation. It welcomed the commitment expressed by the Sudanese Parties to reach an agreement to ensure the successful conclusion of the implementation process of the CPA, but urged them to maintain their commitment to respect the outcome of the referendum and ensure a subsequent peaceful and stable Sudan.
On Darfur, the Forum noted the progress made in peace negotiations under the auspices of the state of Qatar and the AU-UN Joint Mediation, in bringing parties to the negotiating table, but regretted the continued absence of the Justice and Equality Movement and the Sudan Liberation Movement from the peace talks. It urged these parties to participate immediately and without conditions in the Doha Talks. The meeting agreed the Doha outcome should be the point of departure for the initial meeting of the Darfur Political Process. The meeting called upon the Government of the Sudan to create a conducive environment for the political process in Darfur, and upon all the Darfur communities, stakeholders, parties and armed movements to participate in the inclusive negotiations.