Mon Oct 13 2008 Sudan Vision Daily report by Mona Al-Bashir - Joint Mediator Entrusted with Rallying Rebel Factions Round People of Sudan Initiative - copy:
Dr. Mohammed Mandour al-Mahdi has revealed communications made by the different political forces with Abuja non-signatory factions, disclosing that the government has officially charged the joint mediator, Gabriel Basole, with the task of communicating with the non-signatory factions to invite them to participate in the people of Sudan all-round forum which will kick off next Thursday.
He expressed his hope that the rebel factions will appreciate the efforts of the joint mediator and respond to the call for participating in the forum.
Al-Mahdi further indicated that all the signatory factions will participate in the People of Sudan Initiative which the President of the Republic will inaugurate with an elaborate speech. He added that Senior Presidential Assistant, Minni Arkoi Minnawi, has affirmed his participation in the forum.
He disclosed that over 180 public figures will participate in the People of Sudan Initiative which will start next Thursday, in addition to representatives of Qatar, sponsor of the Arab Initiative, Libya, Egypt, Eritrea and Tanzania.
Al-Mahdi pointed out that the Khartoum meeting will represent the starting point for the People of Sudan Initiative where public figures will engage in continuous dialogue for five days in a bid to pinpoint political, social, developmental and other options for the issues to be raised at the forum.
In an interview he made with Omdurman Radio, Al-Mahdi described the Initiative as a serious attempt at surmounting the crisis and paving the way for the success of the Arab-African Initiative which will later kick off utilizing consensus of the people of Sudan over options for resolving Darfur problem.
