Nov 30, 2020(Nyamilepedia) — The head of Sudan’s Sovereign Council Abdel Fattah al-Burhan supports Sudan government withdrawal from the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) negotiations to coerce the African Union to provide a mediator in the negotiations.
The Sudanese authorities withdrew from the direct tripartite talks on the first filling of the GERD, as the method used in the negotiations is reportedly “unproductive because it has been repeatedly experienced in the past, without significant progress”, the Sudanese delegation stressed.
In a statement released after a virtual meeting that was held by the three countries, “Sudan stressed that it would not continue negotiations under the previous approach.”
“Further, it demanded to return to the African Union (Bureau) to endorse the role of experts and to boost the negotiations politically to reach an agreement to the satisfaction of all parties,” the statement continued.
Al-Burhan was briefed by Irrigation Minister Yasir Abbas who is also the head of the government negotiating team in a meeting in Khartoum on the process that has taken about eight years without any break through.
According to the statement issued by the Sovereign Council after the meeting, the head of Sovereign Council endorsed Sudan delegates’ decision to withdraw saying that Sudanese national interest should be the only reference point.
“Al-Burhan confirmed his support for the position taken by the negotiating team, calling for the Sudanese national interest to be the only reference for negotiations,” said a statement
Al-Burhan stressed the need for a political and diplomatic mobilisation to support the government position, which is a national security matter.
Sudan blames South Africa for neglecting its call to refer back to the African Union Bureau.
South Africa is involved in the process as the chairperson of the regional body. Also, involved in the talks as observers are the European Union and the United States.
Observers have pointed out that the suspension of the Sudanese participation in the negotiations could mean de facto the suspension of the whole process.
