AU warns against consequences of arresting Al-Mahdi

Khartoum-The African Union has warned against the negative impact of the arrest of the chairman of the Umma Party on the national dialogue process in Sudan, expressing grave concern over the recent developments.
The chairperson of the African Union Commission Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma has urged the Sudanese parties not to undermine the national dialogue process after the arrest of Al-Mahdi by the Sudanese authorities and the calls for “ backtracking the dialogue” with the ruling party.
In a statement issued Tuesday, Dr. Zuma called on the Sudanese parties not to obstruct the national dialogue climate in Sudan.
Dr. Zuma lauded the visit by the chairman of the high-level African mechanism and his meetings with leaders of Sudanese civil society organizations and the National Congress party , saying that these meetings have created a common understanding to guarantee the success of the national dialogue.

Mbeki is working under the African Union mandate to settle the Sudanese internal disputes and Sudan-South Sudan disputes. Mbeki has met with a number of opposition leaders in Khartoum and asked the Sudanese authorities to allow him to meet Al-Sadeq Al-Mahdi in his prison in Kober.
Stressing the importance of the national dialogue for the future of Sudan, Dr Zuma expressed her grave concern over the recent developments in Sudan.
She has renewed the AU support to Sudan to establish a new political system.