Ending Armed Conflict in Sudan: PABF urges Emmanuel Macron to call for a Conflict Resolution Summit in Paris
Concerned about the deteriorating and ongoing political crisis in Sudan, which has erupted to an armed conflict between Sudan’s National Army led by Army Chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the paramilitary group – Rapid Support Forces (RSF) led by General Mohamed “Hemedti” Hamdan Dagalo a situation that has devastated and destabilized Sudan, the Pan-African Business Forum (The PABF) – a multilateral, private sector driven organization put together by a group of statesmen and new generation of entrepreneurs from several African countries has written to the President of France, Emmanuel Macron asking for his urgent intervention for “…A Truce/Peace Summit and Conflict Resolution Summit in Paris on Sudan Armed Conflict”.
The letter signed by the Chairman of the Forum, Dr Ladislas Prosper Agbesi, addressed to the French President and copied to several high profile personalities including the American President Joe Biden, the Crown Prince of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia – Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, President of UAE and Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces – Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the European Commission – Ursula von der Leyen, and the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC) – Moussa Faki, among others, urged Mr Macron to within the next Seven days, lead a conflict resolution meeting in his capacity as the President of France.
“The PABF would like to seize this opportunity to make a plea to Your Excellency in your capacity as President of France to lead the mediation for a peace/truce and conflict resolution meeting in Paris, France and call for the two warring Sudanese parties i.e. the Sudan’s National Army and the paramilitary group, RSF (Rapid Support Forces) as well as representatives of Sudan’s civil societies for an urgent Truce/Peace and Conflict Resolution meeting in Paris, France within seven (7) days.”
The purpose of the meeting/summit according to the letter exclusively intercepted by ghananewsonline.com.gh will be primarily to bring all parties to agree to a cease fire with a view to finding a lasting and peaceful solution to the current Sudan armed conflict. It is proposed that the Truce/Peace meeting is done in collaboration with the African Union (AU), the USA, the European Union (EU), the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and the Arab Republic of Egypt.
“The PABF strongly and firmly believes that Your Excellency making such call for mediation and peace between the warring factions in Sudan would make Your Excellency strengthen and ascertain your position as the champion of democracy and peace, not only in Africa but in the rest of the world. In addition, this is an unique opportunity for Your Excellency to leave a legacy of accomplishing the renewal of peace and democracy globally,” it stated.
The fighting that erupted on April 15, 2023 between the army and the paramilitary RSF has derailed an internationally backed plan for a transition civilian rule after the 2019 removal of Omar al-Bashir, former leader of Sudan.
After many years of peace and political stability, Sudan’s political situation has further regressed with the current military conflict which if not averted could escalate into a civil war within the country and a regional conflict within the Horn of Africa and the Sahel sub-region. The Sudan’s conflict has rattled and destabilized its neighbors and other countries for reasons ranging from concern about shared Nile waters and oil pipelines to the shape of a new government and a new humanitarian crisis in the making.
As the Sudan battle enters its second week, many civilians have paid the price with an estimated four hundred (400) people killed so far since the conflict started
The PABF is of the view that the African continent has had and witnessed too many armed conflicts and civil wars (From Sudan, South Sudan, Chad, Central Africa Republic, Mali, Burkina Faso, Somalia, Ethiopia, Niger, among others, which has resulted in many immeasurable casualties in terms of loss of human lives, humanitarian crisis, destruction of infrastructure, loss of economic opportunities, displacement of human beings (refugee), destabilization of the region under conflict, hunger and human trafficking.
“The current military conflict in Sudan is not different and if not averted timeously could turn not only Sudan to a complete war zone but the entire Horn of Africa sub region, Sahel and Red Sea sub region would be destabilized and thus suffer immeasurable casualties from the influx of refugees, economic loss, destruction of shared infrastructure such as Nile River water and oil/gas pipeline.”
Below is the full letter:
Source: ghananewsonline.com.gh
