The partnership conference with Sudan, co-organised remotely by the UN, the EU, Germany and the Sudanese government on Thursday 25 June (see EUROPE 12489/20), aims to secure political and financial support from the international community for the political transition that begun last year in Sudan, a country whose economic prospects were disastrous before the pandemic.
This so-called 'Berlin' videoconference should see the Sudanese government commit itself to advancing the 2019 democratic revolution. In return, nearly 50 countries and international organisations will offer Sudan a partnership intended to support the country throughout the political transition and until the 2022 elections.
In a video message broadcast on the eve of the event, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, stressed the importance of helping the government “to fulfil the aspirations of the Sudanese People”.
German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas called on “the international community to provide the financial resources to support the much-needed economic reforms”, and UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, appealed for “massive international solidarity”.
Sudanese Prime Minister Abdullah Hamdok said he hoped for “a strategic partnership and cooperation to remedy the systemic ills” of his country, lay the foundations for economic recovery and “lay a solid foundation for democratic governance”. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)