Mereja.Forum

[Revelations]

QUESTION: I wanted to follow up on a couple of things. On Ethiopia, can you just tell us a little bit more what you mean by discuss prospects for peace talks? Is there a particular initiative you’re thinking about?

And since Special Envoy Feltman will be in the region, is he planning to go back to Khartoum as well? And I saw the Troika-EU-U.S. statement. It looks like you’re doing as if the transition, democratic transition, was still alive. Do you – don’t you think it is over after Hamdok resigned and after the military seizure of power? And what are you going to do to pressure the military to go back on track?

MR PRICE: Thanks, Francesco. So on Special Envoy Feltman’s travel, I don’t have any additional stops to confirm or to allude to at this time beyond his travel to Addis Ababa on January 6th to engage with senior officials regarding the prospects for a broader peace.

And that’s precisely what we seek. We’ve said for some time now that we seek an immediate cessation of hostilities, an end to ongoing human rights abuses and violations, unhindered humanitarian access, and a negotiated resolution to the conflict in Ethiopia, precisely because, in addition to the human suffering, it threatens peace and security in the Horn of Africa. This is in some ways an opportune time for the special envoy to engage with senior Ethiopian Government officials, with Tigrayan forces having withdrawn into Tigray, and the Ethiopian Government stating it does not intend to pursue those forces into Tigray. We do believe this offers an opportunity for both sides to halt combat operations and come to the negotiating table. That will be an issue of discussion when the special envoy is in Ethiopia later this week.

We’ve said this all along, but there is no military solution to the conflict. And we continue to support diplomacy as the first, the last, and the only option. And we reiterate our call for the Ethiopian Government to start a credible, inclusive national dialogue that includes comprehensive, transparent, transitional justice measures, including accountability for those responsible for atrocities.

[Revelations]

"If only the TPLF has succeeded in their coup as in Sudan..."

Moving on to Sudan – and I’m glad you referenced the statement that we put out together with our partners on that. For those who have not read it, I would commend it, but let me make a couple points. In the aftermath of Prime Minister Hamdok’s resignation, Sudanese stakeholders will need to set aside differences and agree on a consensual way forward to advance the country’s democratic transition under civilian leadership, consistent with the 2019 constitutional declaration and the aspirations of the Sudanese people. Continued violence against protesters in Khartoum and in Darfur is unacceptable, and those responsible need to held – to be held accountable.

The Troika and EU statement that we put out just a few moments ago makes a few other points that I think are germane to your question, Francesco. There is a significant task ahead for Sudan’s leadership. No single Sudanese actor can accomplish this task on their own. The Troika and the EU will continue to support the democratic transition in Sudan. But Sudanese stakeholders will need to work on the basis of the 2019 constitutional declaration on how to overcome the nation’s current political crisis, select new civilian leadership, and identify clear timelines and processes for the remaining transitional tasks. And that includes establishing the legislative and judicial branches of government, creating accountability mechanisms, and laying the groundwork for elections.

For our part – and we share this with our partners here – we strongly support credible, international efforts to achieve inclusive dialogue designed to restore Sudan’s democratic transition and civilian rule. We also believe that Sudan’s next prime minister needs to enjoy credibility with the Sudanese public, and this can only occur if the individual is identified through a consultative, civilian-led process, consistent with the 2019 constitutional declaration. And that’s what we’re looking to as the roadmap for all of this, the 2019 constitutional declaration. It is not for any one individual or for any one entity within Sudan to decide when it comes to Sudan’s leadership. This needs to be – it needs to remain – a civilian-led transition, not just a transition that includes civilians, but civilian-led. And we, together with our partners, will continue to look to that 2019 constitutional declaration as the basis for the path ahead, supporting the continued democratic aspirations of the Sudanese people in all of this.

[Revelations]