Sudan’s main civilian opposition coalition has met with the military leaders for the first time since October’s military coup, the United States Embassy said on Friday, reported Reuters.
In a statement, the US Embassy said the meeting between the Forces for the Declaration of Freedom and Change, an alliance of political parties and protest groups, and the country’s military leaders was held late on Thursday at the residence of Saudi Ambassador Ali bin Hassan Jaafar in the capital, Khartoum.
The meeting was attended by Gen. Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, deputy head of Sudan’s ruling Sovereign Council, Lt. Gen. Shams el-Din Kabashin and Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Gaber.
The statement said that the unofficial talks were arranged by the Saudi Embassy and the U.S. delegation in Sudan.
“We thank the participants for their frank & constructive participation and for their willingness to end the political crisis & to build a peaceful, just and democratic Sudan,” it added.
The military’s takeover in October has delayed Sudan’s short-lived fragile democratic transition and plunged the East African nation into turmoil. The coup also triggered protests across the country which have killed more than 100 people so far.
The military takeover also triggered international condemnation and sanctions, including crucial aid cuts by Western governments pending the resumption of the transition to civilian rule.
The FDFC pro-democracy group has refused to sit with the military leaders at the negotiating table since last year’s takeover, insisting they first transfer power to a civilian government, end violence against protesters, and release all detainees.
“We are keen to have two of the most influential countries in the region and the world remains supportive of the Sudanese people and the pro-democracy forces,” the FDFC alliance said in a statement, referring to Saudi Arabia and the US.
As per the statement, in the meeting, the civilian coalition group had agreed to lay out a roadmap in consultation with other civilian groups on how to end Sudan’s ongoing political deadlock.
