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Hamdan Wadi Correspondent
The literary definition of dialogue is the lines spoken by character in a play, “essay” story or novel, especially a conversation between two characters; a literary work that takes the form of such a discussion.

However, in politics, it is exchange of ideas or opinions on particular issues, especially a political or religious issue with a view to reaching an amicable agreement or settlement.

It is also to discuss areas of disagreement frankly in order to resolve them.

Kevin M. Graham, the American scholar in political philosophy, argues that political dialogue is to identify and redress existing forms of injustice, hence,“participants in the dialogue must be able to appeal to the concept of objectivity in order to exchange views, attitudes and background beliefs which distort or conceal various forms of injustice. The bastion of dialogue is the objectivity which would reinforce the privilege of dominant groups rather than being a fulcrum for subordinate groups, so the objectivity plays an indispensable role in social and political dialogue.

Whether the social fabric is homogeneous or heterogeneous, its national harmony will never be attained unless it resorts to frank dialogue and discussion in the open between its social and political components, especially in an entity which has been ravaged by internal conflicts since it has gained its independence before, more than half a century ago.

Upon this brief background the government of the Sudan has embarked on initiative calls for a national comprehensive dialogue between the ruling party and all the opposition parties, as well as those who are waging war against the government.

The objective of the dialogue is to reach a national consensus on the issues of contention between the Sudanese, for example, the power and wealth sharing, allegations of marginalisation and the optimum way of governance.

The President of the Republic of the Sudan Omar Hassan Ahmed Al-Bashir in the inaugural speech of the opening session of the dialogue has proclaimed that the government will sponsor the outcome of the National Comprehensive Dialogue to boost the efforts underway for peaceful settlement of all the issues of contention in the country.

It is worth mentioning that the response to the call was highly promising since most of the political parties have engaged as well as some rebellion factions were already on board.

Africa, which was labelled as a virgin continent, is infected with many internal conflicts. However, the horn of Africa is the most affected.

Sudan is a pivotal country in the area and its realisation of peaceful settlement to its internal conflicts would affect positively the resolution of other conflicts in the sub region. Sudan calls on the friends and the partners to support the initiative in order to achieve its desired ob- jectives.

In this respect Sudan extends thanks to the African Union, especially Dr Nkosazana Dhlamini the chairperson of the Commission, for welcoming the positive steps recently taken by the government towards creating conducive conditions for the holding of National Dialogue.

The chairperson of the Commission noted with satisfaction, the positive releases that were aired by some leaders of the participating opposition parties Dr Dhlamini stressed that these important steps are in line with the agreements of the National Dialogue and Constitutional process signed by the representatives of the National Dialogue Committee of 7+7 and the Paris Declaration Group.

The European Union also considers the National Dialogue process the best opportunity to make progress towards the goal and paves the way towards the internal peace, reconciliation and democratic governance, therefore the European Union declared that it stands ready to support the process and encourages all stakeholders inside and outside Sudan to join efforts towards such a process. The UN and OIC are among the supporters of the dialogue.

Accordingly, expectations are high that the dialogue will achieve its goals.

• Hamdan Wadi is the Sudanese Ambassador to Zimbabwe