South Sudan urges Sudanese parties to dialogue following coup

JUBA – South Sudan government is calling on Sudanese parties to return to dialogue and engage in good faith to restore the constitutional order in Sudan after the military dissolved the government and imposed a state of emergency.

Sudan’s military seized power Monday, dissolving the transitional government hours after troops arrested the prime minister.

Thousands of people flooded into the streets to protest the coup that threatens the country’s shaky progress toward democracy.

The takeover comes more than two years after protesters forced the ouster of longtime autocrat Omar al-Bashir and just weeks before the military was supposed to hand the leadership of the council that runs the country over to civilians.

South Sudan government urged all parties in neighboring Sudan to work to ensure stability and security amid the military takeover in Sudan.

“We encourage them to quickly return to dialogue as the appropriate way to address their differences. We recognize that stability in Sudan has a direct bearing on our common goal of building greater stability in the region,” the South Sudan Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation said in a statement issued on Monday.

The statement added that “The path towards lasting peace will inevitably be bumpy with difficult choices along the way. Yet, we are confident in the wisdom of Sudanese leaders. We know them all well and believe they will make the best decisions,”

The government said it is keenly following the unfolding political tensions within the ruling coalition.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation is keenly following the unfolding political tensions within the ruling coalition in our sisterly Republic of Sudan,” it said.

It said that President Salva Kiir Mayardit has affirmed his country’s unwavering solidarity with Sudan.

“In building the Coalition, Sudan has shown the world that Africans can and will solve their problems from within. For that, the Government and People of Sudan have our utmost respect as fellow Africans,” it said.

The government said it will remain steadfast in supporting the aspirations and stance of the Sudanese people and it will avail all its diplomatic channels to support Sudan.