Deputy PM Demeke Mekonnen urges Sudanese political stakeholders to find a peaceful solution through sober and rational dialogue
Speaking at a consultative meeting of the African Union in Cairo today (April 23), Deputy Prime Minister, H.E. Demeke Mekonnen called for Sudanese political stakeholders to find a peaceful solution to the current situation through sober and rational dialogue.
The meeting, which was organized and chaired by the current AU Chairman, H.E. President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi of Egypt, and attended by Chairperson of the African Union Commission, H.E. Moussa Faki Mahamat, and the leaders of Djibouti, Kenya, Somalia, Rwanda and South Africa, aimed at addressing the situation in the Sudan.
Ethiopia participated in the meeting in its capacity as Chair of IGAD. IGAD members also deliberated on the situation in the Sudan ahead of the consultative meeting of the African Union.
In his remarks, Deputy Prime Minister Demeke Mekonnen said, “Ethiopia has full confidence in the wisdom of our Sudanese brothers and sisters to overcome this difficult moment, and secure the sovereignty and political independence of the Sudanese nation”. Ethiopia, he says, is always ready to support the Sudanese people, while fully adhering to the principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of the Sudan.
The Deputy Prime Minister further said that Ethiopia welcomes the ongoing efforts made by the African Union. “Ethiopia as the chair of IGAD, and together with its entire membership is fully committed to work closely with the African Union to help find an African solution to the current situation in the Sudan,” he added.
The meeting decided that Sudan’s Transitional Military Council should transfer power to a civilian government. Given that the ultimatum previously set by the AU is only seven days away, the meeting also decided that the Transitional Military Council should be given some additional time to finalize the transfer of power to a civilian government./ Ministry of Foreign Affairs