Sudan’s Freedom and Change movement says UN consultations suffered ‘severe blow’

Sudan’s Freedom and Change movement said on Tuesday that the initial consultations launched by the United Nations Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan (UNITAMS) have received a “severe blow” from the country’s de facto ruler General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan.

In a letter sent to the Friends of Sudan group, which met on Tuesday in Riyadh, the movement called on the group to support the demand for the formation of a high-level international mechanism that is acceptable to the Sudanese people and compatible with their aspirations. They noted that such a move will help “develop a credible political process that ends the revolutionary situation completely and establish a new constitutional framework that fulfils the requirement of full civil authority.”

On Tuesday, the Saudi Foreign Ministry confirmed in a statement that representatives of the Friends of Sudan group met at the ministry’s headquarters in Riyadh to discuss efforts for a peaceful political transition in Sudan, without making any reference to the Freedom and Change letter.

READ: UN launches talks to salvage Sudan transition

Meanwhile, it was not possible to obtain a comment from the United Nations Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan (UNITAMS) or the Sudanese authorities on the movement’s remarks.

On 8 January, UNITAMS announced the launch of preliminary consultations for a comprehensive political process between the Sudanese parties to resolve the country’s crisis.

Sudan has been in a state of political turmoil since 25 October, when army chief and head of the country’s sovereign transitional council, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan dissolved the government led by Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok, detained the civilian leadership, and declared a nationwide state of emergency, sparking a wave of international condemnation.​​

Sudan’s prime minister resigns amid deadlock, anti-coup protests – Cartoon [Sabaaneh/Middle East Monitor]