Egypt and the United States mediate in the Sudan conflict
On January 13, the Egyptian President, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, expressed his country's support to the search for a consensual solution to the conflict that keeps the civilian and military parts of the Sudanese government at loggerheads.
The political confrontation has plunged Sudan into confrontation, due to the protests of the civilian population after the coup d'état perpetrated on October 25 by the Sudanese Army against its civilian partners in the Government.
With the coalition of both parties since 2019, a transition period towards democracy was established.
However, with the resignation earlier this January of Abdullah Hamdok as Prime Minister, the political landscape triggered by the recent coup d'état is further complicated.
In addition, a new occupation of power by military force has been encouraged, which is giving rise to a wave of protests and an escalation of violence in the African country.
Due to Egypt's historically good relations with Sudan, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, has taken part as a mediator between the parties and urged them to reach a consensus on the election of a prime minister to take over the transition of the country towards the formation of a new government that will successfully achieve the establishment of democracy in the country.
"The situation in Sudan requires consensus and dialogue between all parties and forces for there to be a way out and appropriate action for a transitional period that will witness elections at the end," the Egyptian president stated.
According to information from the U.S. State Department, David Satterfield, U.S. envoy to the Horn of Africa, and Molly Phee, Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, will visit the capitals of Saudi Arabia, Ethiopia and Sudan next week, January 17-20, coinciding with the crisis currently facing the African countries.
The U.S. delegation will meet in Riyadh with the "Friends of Sudan", a group supporting the restoration of the transitional government in Sudan after the military coup in October.
The purpose of the meeting is to "mobilize international support" for the United Nations (UN) mission, which aims to "facilitate a new civilian transition to democracy" in Sudan, according to the U.S. State Department statement.
After the meeting in Riyadh, the next meeting point will be Khartoum, the Sudanese capital, where they will meet with various pro-democracy activist organizations, women's and youth groups, and various political and military figures.
In the communiqué, the message sent by the United States was that the country "is committed to freedom, peace and justice for the people of Sudan".
Also, the final meeting place will be in Addis Ababa, where the two officials will meet with Abiy Ahmed, Ethiopian Prime Minister, to put an end to the escalating civil war.
According to the communiqué, they will demand a ceasefire, as well as the release of political prisoners and the restoration of humanitarian access, encouraging the government to choose the path of peace by "ending air strikes and other hostilities."
According to the United Nations, at least 108 people have been killed since early January in airstrikes believed to have been sent by Ethiopian forces in Tigray.
Notably, following the resignation of Prime Minister Abdullah Hamdok on January 2, the commanding body of the National Pact Forces says it will hold consultations with the aim of appointing a new interim government to fill his vacuum.
"The leadership body will proceed to consult with the rest of the components to appoint an interim government until the parties agree at the end of the dialogue," he added.
Sudan is in the midst of a crisis that has fragmented the country and its people.
The current government is facing massive protests by civilians who reject the continuity of the military command in the organs of power, demanding the release of detained civilian leaders, which the military rejects until new elections are held.
