Khartoum: The international Quintet Mechanism on Sudan reaffirmed Thursday its respect for the country's sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity, and rejected parallel governing structures as it concluded a good-office mission to Khartoum, according to Sudan News.
According to Anadolu Agency, the mechanism, which includes the UN, African Union, EU, Arab League, and Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), emphasized that there is no military solution to the ongoing war in Sudan. The Quintet issued a statement, as reported by Sudan News, asserting that any sustainable political process must involve concrete measures to protect civilians and cease hostilities.
The Quintet's efforts are directed towards promoting an inclusive and credible Sudanese-led political process. This process aims to facilitate a transition towards a democratic civilian government that aligns with the aspirations of the Sudanese people.
During their mission, the Quintet engaged in constructive discussions with Transitional Sovereignty Council Chairman Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, his deputy, Prime Minister Kamil Idris, and the undersecretary of the Foreign Ministry and International Cooperation. They also attended a working dinner hosted by the finance minister, which included political and civilian actors.
Meetings were conducted with various political and civilian groups, including the Democratic Bloc, as well as a committee responsible for preparing the environment for Sudanese dialogue. The mission concluded with discussions involving independent women's and youth groups.
The Quintet stated that the visit aimed to gather insights directly from Sudanese stakeholders and connect its external consultations with emerging domestic initiatives. The delegation arrived on Tuesday for a three-day visit, focusing on direct political consultations with relevant Sudanese parties.
On Wednesday, Al-Burhan welcomed the delegation at the presidential palace in Khartoum, where they deliberated on peace efforts and the political process. Mohamed Ibn Chambas, head of the African Union High-Level Panel on Sudan, described the meeting as 'constructive,' emphasizing the Quintet's intention to align international mediation efforts with Sudanese initiatives.
The Quintet has been at the forefront of efforts related to the political process, sponsoring consultations among Sudanese civilian forces to end the war. Since April 2023, the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have been engaged in conflict due to disagreements concerning the integration of the paramilitary group into the military establishment. The ongoing war has resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands and the displacement of approximately 13 million people, creating one of the world's most severe humanitarian crises.