The lingering crisis in Sudan has displaced 10 million people while two million others have become refugees, Dr Mohammed Ibn Chambas has said.

Mr Chambas, chairman of the African Union high-level panel on the resolution of the crisis, told journalists in a telephone interview that the situation in the war-torn nation was critical.

“There is a very serious humanitarian crisis there; it is a very worrisome situation,” Mr Chambas said.

He expressed regrets that the media was not reporting the scary situation in Sudan.

“The unfortunate thing is that the Sudanese situation doesn’t get to the front pages. It doesn’t get to the news. It is not Gaza or Ukraine.

“It is necessary to tell this story. The world needs to hear the Sudanese story. Any African coverage of this tragedy will be welcomed,” he said.

On the mediation efforts toward ending the conflict, he said that the warring groups were invited to Addis Ababa for talks.

“What we have done is to launch a preparatory meeting for Inter-Sudanese dialogue. We need to end the war and return Sudan to peace.

“We are calling the groups one at a time. We are reaching out to political and civil organisations in the country.

“In the next meeting, we shall be discussing with the Sudan Peoples Liberation Movement.

“We shall meet the youth, women, civil society organisations, professional groups, and traditional authorities.

“We shall seek views of all groups. We shall ask them to send their representatives. We want an inclusive process that will leave no one behind.

“More importantly, we want to have recommendations on how to end the war. There is a need for a political solution to the crisis. That process has commenced and we are happy with the stage of consultations.

“We are looking at successive inclusive dialogue, transitional justice, and security reforms.

“All groups want peace. What we are saying is that they must all play their roles to bring it.”

Mr Chambas decried the role of external groups in worsening the crisis.

“Yes, external groups are playing a huge role in prolonging the violence. But the more the crisis lasts, the more you have the outside forces seeking to fuel it.

“We want these outside forces to support the quest for peace instead of bringing arms.

“We want all groups involved in the crisis to place the collective Sudanese interest above their personal considerations,” he said.

Mr Chambas’ panel had held a five-day preparatory meeting of the Inter-Sudanese political dialogue at the African Union Commission building in Addis Ababa.

During the meeting, the panel reminded participants at the mediation that the focus was on Sudanese ownership and leadership.

It also made reference to inclusiveness, neutrality and transparency in the mediation efforts.

(NAN)