International and regional efforts to address the humanitarian crisis in Sudan and support political settlement processes are accelerating, amid intensive diplomatic moves led by the United Nations and its regional and international partners to end the war that has been ongoing for more than three years.
Political and diplomatic efforts are intensifying to create the conditions for a comprehensive, Sudanese-led political process, in parallel with efforts to strengthen the humanitarian response and protect civilians facing one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.
In this context, meetings of the Quintet Committee on the Sudanese crisis will begin next Wednesday at the African Union headquarters in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, with the participation of the Sudanese parties that attended the Berlin Conference on Sudan.
The Quintet comprises the United Nations, the European Union, the African Union, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), and the League of Arab States.
Observers believe that the upcoming meetings of the Quintet in Addis Ababa are of a technical nature and aim to bring the participating Sudanese parties closer together, in implementation of the outcomes of the Berlin Conference held last April, This is part of preparations for broader political negotiations that will incorporate the serious initiatives on the table, including the Quartet’s initiative, within the ongoing diplomatic efforts aimed at advancing the political dialogue process and ending the ongoing war in Sudan.
In the same context, the Personal Envoy of the UN Secretary-General to Sudan, Pekka Haavisto, continues his meetings and contacts with the parties concerned in support of de-escalation efforts and measures aimed at strengthening the protection of civilians in the country.
Hafisto recently visited a number of Gulf capitals, including the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia, where he met with a wide range of officials and stakeholders involved in Sudanese affairs.
Deputy UN Spokesperson Farhan Haq told reporters that Havisto is continuing his regional travels and meetings with relevant parties to support de-escalation efforts and strengthen the protection of civilians, as well as to advance a future political process led by the Sudanese themselves.
According to the UN Department of Public Information, Havisto’s visits to several Gulf capitals were part of consultations with various stakeholders on Sudanese affairs, in support of diplomatic efforts to end the conflict, in coordination with the five-party committee, which includes the United Nations and is preparing to hold consultations with political forces, civil society organizations, women, youth, and displaced Sudanese, in preparation for a broader political dialogue aimed at building a national consensus on the country’s future.
Farhan Haq expressed his hope that these efforts would contribute to progress leading to an end to the war, reiterating the United Nations’ concern over the continuing attacks in the Darfur region.
He called on all parties to the conflict to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure and to adhere to international humanitarian law, stressing the urgent need to increase funding for humanitarian aid to address the humanitarian disaster caused by the war in Sudan.
