Rawlings urges Sudan to support Somali peace process

Ghana’s former President and AU’s High Representative for Somalia, Flt Lt Jerry John Rawlings, has called on Sudan to support the peace process in Somalia.

He said Sudan could lay this role by providing counsel to the Somali leader on how best to address their challenges.

Former President Rawlings said unity of purpose was required in order to bring peace to Somalia.

The AU High Representative who was speaking during a call on Sudanese President, Omar Al Bashir in Khartoum, called for a candid engagement of Somali opposition groups in dialogue.

Ft Lt Rawlings said he is consulting leaders of the Six-nation East African Inter-governmental Authority on Development countries and all troop contributing countries to ensure that there is consensus on how to tackle the Somalia problem.

President Bashir said Sudan has been preoccupied by the Somalia problem since its eruption twenty (20) years ago and had played a positive role in trying to control the problem.

He said he is pleased by former President Rawlings' visit and acknowledged that his role is a difficult one.

The Sudanese President expressed his support for the AU High Representative’s role and called for a concise plan towards addressing the Somalia crisis.

He said Somalia needed a strong government, which could sustain peace and security.

Former President Rawlings has already held talks with Kenya’s Mwai Kibaki, Ethiopia’s Meles Zenawi and is due to hold discussions with Uganda’s Yoweri Museveni on Friday.

GNA