Sudanese political forces refuse to sign the final statement of the Cairo conference

A number of Sudanese political and civil forces refused, on Sunday, to sign the final statement of the Cairo Conference, because it did not include their comments and amendments to the statement.

Twelve Sudanese political figures and cities that participated in the Cairo conference issued a statement expressing their thanks to the Arab Republic of Egypt for the “generous invitation to hold meetings in Cairo with the aim of finding a horizon to resolve the political crisis and end the war.”

Among the most important figures who signed the statement: Malik Agar, head of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement, Gibril Ibrahim, head of the Justice and Equality Movement, and Minni Arko Minawi, head of the Sudan Liberation Movement, who are from the Forces of Freedom and Change and the Democratic Bloc (which includes armed movements, political parties, and civil forces).

The statement of the political and civil forces said: “With reference to the final statement of the Cairo conference, the political and civil forces expressed their rejection of sitting directly at this stage with the Coordination of Democratic Forces (Progress) due to its alliance with the Rapid Support Forces and other reasons related to its failure to condemn the serious violations of human rights and dignity...).”

The statement continued: "In connection with that, the formation of a joint mechanism with the Progress Coordination Committee was rejected, and therefore the political and civil forces refrained from signing the final statement of the Cairo Conference." The forces stated in their statement: "The political and civil forces clarify that the final statement that was issued did not include their comments and amendments (did not clarify them), and they did not sign it and it does not enjoy consensus, and the person who read the statement is not agreed upon."

The Coordination of Democratic Civilian Forces (Taqaddom), which includes parties and civil organizations, was formed after the outbreak of war in Sudan more than a year ago, to unite civilians with the aim of ending the war, most notably the parties of the Declaration of Freedom and Change Forces, headed by Abdullah Hamdok, the former Prime Minister, and it rejects accusations of siding with one of the parties to the conflict.

Earlier on Sunday, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi stressed the importance of "the participation of all parties" in Sudan's political transition during his meeting with a delegation of conference participants. According to a statement from the Egyptian Foreign Ministry, the "Together to Stop the War in Sudan" conference began on Saturday in the Egyptian capital Cairo with the participation of representatives of Sudanese political forces, the United Nations, the African Union, the Arab League and the European Union.