The Sudan Founding Alliance, known as TASIS and led by the Rapid Support Forces, has requested a meeting with the Five-Party Mechanism as soon as possible after withdrawing from consultations scheduled to take place in Addis Ababa on Saturday.
In a statement issued on Friday, TASIS spokesperson Ahmed Tugud Lisan said the alliance had apologised for not attending the current round of talks but remained willing to engage directly with the mechanism.
The consultations form part of the second exploratory phase of efforts to establish a preparatory committee that would help guide a broader political process aimed at ending Sudan’s war and restoring civilian rule.
TASIS joins the Principles Declaration–Somoud coalition, the Sudan Liberation Movement led by Abdel Wahid al-Nur and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement–Revolutionary Current in staying away from the current consultations.
The Democratic Bloc and several other political groupings are continuing to participate.
The Five-Party Mechanism comprises the African Union, the United Nations, the European Union, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development and the Arab League. It has been facilitating consultations among Sudanese political and civilian forces in an effort to develop a pathway towards a civilian transition.
Sources within TASIS said the alliance’s decision was linked to concerns over the way the mechanism managed the exploratory phase and selected the parties invited to participate.
They said the shortcomings required a comprehensive review of the political process, including its structure, representation and management.
Despite withdrawing from the Addis consultations, TASIS praised the mechanism’s efforts and stressed the importance of cooperation with regional and international partners.
The alliance said such engagement was necessary to define the requirements of a credible political process and improve its chances of success.
TASIS said it hoped to meet the Five-Party Mechanism as soon as possible to discuss its concerns and proposals for moving the process forward.
