Rédaction Africa Links 24 with SudanTribune
Published on 2024-03-04 11:11:23
On March 4, 2024, Malik Agar, the Deputy Chairman of the Transitional Sovereign Council in Sudan, traveled to Pretoria to meet with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa. The purpose of the meeting was to provide updates on the ongoing conflict in Sudan and to discuss potential strategies to bring an end to the war.
During his visit, Agar engaged in discussions with various officials from the South African government, the ruling Congress Party, and former President Thabo Mbeki. The goal of these meetings was to exchange views on ways to end the conflict, brief the South African leadership about the root causes of the conflict, and correct any misconceptions that may have arisen following a previous meeting between the leader of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and President Ramaphosa on January 4th.
In a statement released in Port Sudan, the Sovereign Council of Sudan reported that Agar discussed the current war in Sudan, its impact on the country’s political and humanitarian situation, and clarified any misunderstandings surrounding the conflict. Agar emphasized that the war, initiated by the RSF, was not self-inflicted but rather imposed on Sudan by external forces with political, economic, and military motivations. Additionally, Agar presented the Sudanese government’s proposed roadmap for resolving the crisis and provided President Ramaphosa with a copy.
The statement also mentioned that Agar criticized the calls from IGAD, the African Union, and other regional and international organizations, arguing that their statements failed to consider the potential negative consequences and disrespected the Sudanese people by treating their national army as equivalent to mercenaries.
Separately, Ambassador Hussein Awad, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated that the discussions aimed to clarify the reasons behind the rebellion by the RSF militia and correct any misunderstandings surrounding the conflict. He expressed optimism due to the promised positive intervention from President Ramaphosa to help resolve the crisis.
The RSF accuses the Sudanese army of initiating the war, alleging that it was instigated by Islamists within the government. They claim to support democracy and a secular state. In contrast, the military maintains that the conflict was started by the RSF leader, acting in collaboration with a regional country seeking control of Sudan’s maritime border and agricultural land.
The South African presidency stated that the purpose of the meeting was to brief President Ramaphosa on the progress towards peace in Sudan. President Ramaphosa expressed South Africa’s support for dialogue between the warring parties and reiterated the call for an immediate ceasefire to alleviate the suffering of the Sudanese people, especially women and children.
President Ramaphosa emphasized the importance of a Sudanese-led solution to the crisis, free from external interference. He promised to review the proposed peace roadmap and offer feedback.
Both leaders agreed to establish a joint mechanism to strengthen bilateral relations between South Africa and Sudan and implement the agreements reached during the meeting. The South African presidency also highlighted President Ramaphosa’s anticipation of meeting with General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, Chairman of the Transitional Sovereign Council.
In conclusion, the meeting between Malik Agar and President Ramaphosa was a significant step towards finding a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Sudan. By engaging in dialogue and collaboration, both leaders demonstrated a commitment to working towards a sustainable peace that respects the sovereignty and dignity of the Sudanese people.
Read the original article on Sudan Tribune
