Addis Ababa, 9 April 2014: The Chairperson of the Commission of the African Union (AU), Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, welcomes the formal commencement of the Sudan National Consultative Dialogue through the convening of a National Political Parties Summit, which was chaired by President Omar Hassan al Bashir, on 6 April 2014.

The Chairperson of the Commission acknowledges that this first meeting is an important step aimed at transitioning Sudan into a new political dispensation where the issues of democracy, constitutional reform, economic stability, peaceful resolution of conflicts and diversity are effectively addressed. She recognizes the need for Sudan to undertake a comprehensive and holistic national dialogue amongst the people of Sudan and congratulates all the political parties which took part in this first meeting for their constructive and candid inputs, which will guide the national dialogue process and will help focus the work of various committees to be established.

The Chairperson of the Commission also encourages the Government of Sudan to engage in some immediate national reforms and confidence-building measures, as announced by the President of the Republic during his meeting with the leaders of the political parties, stressing that this would facilitate genuine participation of all the sectors of society in the national dialogue. She urges all the political and other stakeholders to heed the call to take part in this national process to ensure that it encompasses broad views of the Sudanese Nation and to seize this opportunity to advance the democratization agenda in their country and end the suffering of their people.

The Chairperson of the Commission reiterates the AU’s continued commitment to assist Sudan, through the AU High Level Implementation Panel (AUHIP), and calls on the international community to stand ready to support the Sudanese in the pursuit for a new political dispensation.