BRUSSELS — High level meetings were organised today at the European Parliament in Brussels following Berlin Summit with Khalid Omar Youssef former minister of cabinet affairs in Sudan and rapporteur of the civil democratic alliance “Somoud”.
Mr Youssef met with several members of the European Parliament, members of the Foreign Affairs Committee as well as the EU-Africa Committee, including MEPs Carlo Fidanza, Paolo Inselvini, Pietro Vecchi and Carlo Ciccioli, to highlight civil society’s main concerns and call on the EU to support the democratic transition and the peace process in Sudan.
He started by highlighting the recent developments in Sudan, particularly the humanitarian catastrophe resulting from the war, which is considered the greatest global tragedy of the 21st century. He also thanked the efforts of the EU by mentioning the important role played by the European Union in organizing the Berlin Conference and the significant pledges made by European countries regarding humanitarian aid and support to the population in need.
He also emphasized the importance of pressing for an immediate and unconditional humanitarian truce throughout the country, and the necessity of coordinating all initiatives to reach a peaceful solution.
Mr Khalid Omar Youssef stressed the fact that the Quartet’s roadmap represents the optimal path to ending the war. He also explained the destructive role played by the Sudanese Islamist movement in fueling the war and obstructing all peace initiatives by infiltrating the Sudanese military establishment and hijacking its decision-making.
The civil society in Sudan does not support the islamist ideology and it is highly important to designate this group as a terrorist organization across Europe, following the recent decisions issued in the United States and several European countries. Sudanese population has been suffering for decades under the islamist rule and the revolution following the Arab spring in 2019 aimed at overthrowing the islamist regime but later the islamists came back to power through the military coup in 2021.
Sudanese civil society really hopes that these meetings will yield to a coordinated international stance that will help the Sudanese parties expedite serious steps towards ending the war and establishing a just and comprehensive peace that will end the ongoing suffering endured by the population, mainly the most vulnerable groups such as women, children and minorities who have been suffering from famine and displacement since the beginning of the conflict.
EU leaders thanked the efforts of Mr Youssef together with the Sudanese civil society and showed solidarity with the population as well as highlighted that they are ready to act to help the Sudanese people put an end to the conflict and achieve freedom, democracy, peace and dignity.
