AU High-Level Panel on Sudan met dissolved NCP

"In a rare move, the African Union High-Level Panel on Sudan met with representatives of the dissolved National Congress Party (NCP) of the former Islamist regime in Cairo on Wednesday.

Over the past two days, the panel also held meetings in Port Sudan with figures including Sudanese Army Commander Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the Popular Congress Party (Shura Council’s wing), and others. 

Meanwhile, the Civil Democratic Forces Coordination Mechanism (“Tagadum”) is expected to meet with the panel in Addis Ababa on Thursday." Read more.

From Sudan Tribune

Dated Wednesday, 6 March 2024 - here is a copy in full:

African Union mechanism meets dissolved Sudanese Islamist party in Cairo

AU HLP- Sudan poses with the NCP delegation on March 6, 2024

March 6, 2024 (CAIRO) – In a rare move, the African Union High-Level Panel on Sudan met with representatives of the dissolved National Congress Party (NCP) of the former Islamist regime in Cairo on Wednesday.

This meeting was part of the panel’s ongoing efforts to hold talks with various Sudanese political groups aimed at ending the ongoing conflict.

Sources confirmed to Sudan Tribune that the meeting, held at the Sheraton Hotel, followed similar talks with representatives of the Forces of Freedom and Change – Democratic Bloc.

Over the past two days, the panel also held meetings in Port Sudan with figures including Sudanese Army Commander Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the Popular Congress Party (Shura Council’s wing), and others. 

Meanwhile, the Civil Democratic Forces Coordination Mechanism (“Tagadum”) is expected to meet with the panel in Addis Ababa on Thursday.

The meeting with the NCP delegation, which included party leading members Amira Al-Fadil and Osama Faisal, focused on the Sudanese crisis and potential solutions to the conflict between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces, which began in April 2023.

However, sources stated that NCP representatives claimed they lacked the mandate to discuss the proposed agenda and advised the panel to meet with the party’s leadership within Sudan.

In August 2023, Yasir Arman, a spokesperson for the Forces for Freedom and Change, criticized potential involvement of the NCP in peace talks, viewing it as rewarding them for past actions.

Tagadum and other pro-democracy forces in Sudan agreed to exclude the National Congress Party (NCP) from the transitional government, as provided in the 2019 Constitutional Declaration. They argue that the NCP, an Islamist group banned after the 2019 revolution, would impede the establishment of a secular state.

The African Union (AU), however, advocates for the NCP’s inclusion, emphasizing the importance of inclusivity in the political process. The AU sees the NCP’s support for the military in its conflict with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) as a potential entry point for their involvement.

Led by former Prime Minister Abdallah Hamdok, the Tagadum delegation is expected to reiterate its firm opposition to the NCP’s participation in the transitional period.

View original: https://sudantribune.com/article282990/

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South Sudan’s Kiir in talks with SPLM-N over attacks in Sudan's South Kordofan and Blue Nile states

Report from Sudan Tribune - sudantribune.com
Published on Thursday 20 July 2023 - here is a full copy:

Sudan’s Kiir in talks with SPLM-N over South Kordofan attacks

July 20, 2023 (JUBA) – South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir is in talks with the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) leaders following reports of resumption of hostilities in South Kordofan and Blue Nile states, an aide said.

The presidential advisor on national security, Tut Gatluak Manime told Sudan Tribune on Thursday that Kiir discussed with SPLM-N leaders prospects for peace and the need to cease military hostilities in the two areas and the whole of Sudan.

“The president has been engaging different leaders who participated and signed the Juba Peace agreement, including those who did not sign it to update them on his regional activities and his efforts to solicit their views on the comprehensive approach following his participation in the recent summit of the heads of state and government from countries sharing direct borders with Sudan”, he explained.

A supporter of the SPLM-N faction led by Abdel Aziz Adam Al-Hilu claimed they do not attack territories held by Sudan armed forces, but are trying to provide protection to areas under their control to avoid what happens in Darfur, where civilians and civil settlements as used shields by armed groups fighting each other.

“The SPLM-N is the people’s movement and it has the right and responsibilities to protect lives and properties of the people under its control. This is what is happening in South Kordofan and Blue Nile areas.  As far as I know, the SPLA-N gallant forces do not carry out attacks. They don’t attack government-held territories, they are protecting our own legitimate territory”, the supporter who preferred anonymity owing to the sensitivity of the matter, told Sudan Tribune.

The SPLM-N and the Sudanese government had previously signed an agreement to halt hostilities, allowing humanitarian aid access to the region from Sudanese territory and enabling people’s movement to and from SPLM-controlled areas.

Since July 15, the SPLA-N led by al-Hilu resumed military operations in areas neighbouring the cities of Dilling and Kadugli, amid calls for cessation of hostilities.

On Wednesday, South Sudanese government expressed deep regret over the recent resumption of the SPLM-N attacks in the South Kordofan state of Sudan, raising concerns about potential repercussions on the stability of the region.

In an interview with Sudan Tribune, Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation minister, Deng Dau Malek said he was dismayed over the renewed hostilities in the two areas, calling on “all parties concerned” to immediately halt military operations and focus on maintaining peace, security and stability of the region.

The SPLM-N, which has been fighting the government in the South Kordofan and the Blue Nile states, also known as Two Areas, since June 2011, split in 2017 into two factions, one is led by Abdel-Aziz al-Hilu and the other is led by Malik Agar.

The split within the rebel movement was a result of differences over a number of organisational matters as well as the position to adopt in the peace talks.

Al-Hilu who was the deputy chairman blamed the negotiating team led by Yasir Arman for ignoring the demand of the Nuba Mountains for self-determination.

However, during the last round of talks in February 2018, the government of Sudan and al-Hilu faction of SPLM-N failed to reach a cessation of hostilities agreement.

In 2020, the SPLM-N signed a Declaration of Principles (DoP) with the Sudanese government. The DoP affirmed the need to recognize and accommodate the different racial, ethnic, religious and cultural diversities in the country. (ST) 

Image: South Sudan's President Salva Kiir (Getty)

View original: https://sudantribune.com/article275310/

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FFC civilian group leader Arman urges unified front to end war and achieve democratic transition in Sudan

"A prominent leader of the Forces for Freedom and Change (FFC), Yasir Arman, called for building a unified civil front in the country to end the war and advance the tasks of democratic transition in Sudan.

On Monday, the FFC delegation participated in the closing session of the IGAD Quartet meeting charged with ending the conflict in Sudan. It also held meetings with the leaders of the African Union and IGAD countries to brief them about its position on the ongoing conflict in Khartoum and Darfur and its tragic consequences.

Civil groups, including a faction led by former Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok, have recently raised calls for the participation of civilians in comprehensive negotiations with the aim of halting the war, re-establishing the political process, and achieving democratic transition." Read more.

Report at Sudan Tribune - sudantribune.com
Published 11 June 2023 - here is a fully copy:

Arman urges unified front to end war and achieve democratic transition in Sudan

Yasir Arman speaks to reporters in a press conference held by the FFC on November 16, 2022 (ST photo)

June 11, 2023 (KHARTOUM) – A prominent leader of the Forces for Freedom and Change (FFC), Yasir Arman, called for building a unified civil front in the country to end the war and advance the tasks of democratic transition in Sudan.

The call comes after the leaders of the revolutionary forces left the country on a regional and international tour to advocate for an end to the fighting and to explain the positions of the coalition on the issues of transition in Sudan.

On Monday, the FFC delegation participated in the closing session of the IGAD Quartet meeting charged with ending the conflict in Sudan. It also held meetings with the leaders of the African Union and IGAD countries to brief them about its position on the ongoing conflict in Khartoum and Darfur and its tragic consequences.

In a statement to Sudan Tribune from the Ethiopian capital, Arman said that their meetings with the IGAD quartet, the African Union, and international partners highlighted the importance of political and civil forces in shaping the future of Sudan. He added that this is the first time that civil and political leaders participate in such meetings.

Arman stressed that the civil forces need to form a broad civil front after the end of the war and the return of the military to the barracks.

“The building of the civil front will not be undertaken by an individual or a single group, but by the forces of change, revolution, and democratic forces together, in full transparency and in broad daylight, inside and outside Sudan, to build a civil front that leads to a real transformation in Sudan,” he said.

Recently, calls have been made by civil groups, including a group led by former Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok, for the involvement of civilians in comprehensive negotiations aimed at stopping the war, resuming the political process, and democratic transition. Arman warned against the continuation of the ongoing conflict in the country between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces, as it would lead to the destruction of Khartoum and plunge the country into a comprehensive civil war on ethnic and regional lines.

Civil groups, including a faction led by former Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok, have recently raised calls for the participation of civilians in comprehensive negotiations with the aim of halting the war, re-establishing the political process, and achieving democratic transition. Arman cautioned against the perpetuation of the ongoing conflict between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces, emphasizing the potential consequences of such a continuation, including the devastation of Khartoum and the escalation of a widespread civil war along ethnic and regional divisions.

He highlighted that the ongoing clashes within the nation have the potential to utterly devastate Khartoum and erase the historical significance embodied by its monuments over the past two centuries.

“Initially, RSF elements perpetrated numerous violations and unlawfully seized civilian homes and properties. Presently, in the absence of substantial ground forces, the army is moving towards depopulating the capital by subjecting it to airstrikes and artillery bombardments. Preventing the total annihilation of Khartoum is imperative. Also, it is essential that the voices of Sudanese people and the international community be raised to protect civilians in Khartoum and bring an end to the war.”

Following the outbreak of the fighting in Khartoum on April 15, the paramilitary forces seized civilian homes and turned them into barracks for their fighters. In addition, they occupied essential facilities and looted banks, resulting in disruptions to various aspects of life in the capital.

Recently, the RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Daglo “Hemetti” admitted that his forces committed violations and promised to hold those involved accountable, but civilians are still suffering from looting and occupation of homes.

In addition, the military conducted aerial assaults on RSF positions situated in residential neighbourhoods, resulting in the loss of over a thousand lives and the displacement of more than one and a half million individuals to other regions or abroad.

Arman pointed out that the ongoing fighting in Darfur has become a threat to the peaceful coexistence between the various tribal components in the region and will lead to the eruption of ethnic and tribal conflict.

“Supporting civil society in Darfur, the Native Administration, women, youth, the displaced and refugees as a genuine partner to stop the war is important and necessary,” he further said.

Over 250,000 civilians from the Darfur region have been forcibly displaced from their homes as a result of attacks by the RSF-backed Arab militias. Numerous reports have drawn parallels between these events and the ethnic cleansing and genocide that have occurred in some African countries.

The leader of the FFC called for the active participation of civil society in the distribution of aid, including medical personnel, legal experts, women, and youth. Additionally, they emphasized the need for the establishment of civil administrations across urban and rural areas of Sudan to ensure the fair distribution of assistance to those who are in need.

According to news reports, international aid intended for the war-affected population and civilians in need is not reaching its intended recipients. Instead, it is being stockpiled in warehouses, and there are allegations of involvement by organizations associated with the former regime. (ST)

View original: https://sudantribune.com/article275055/

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Sudan’s TMC talks with Alliance of Freedom and Change (AFC) includes NUP, SLA-MM, SPLM-N

Article from Al-Ahram Weekly.org.eg

By HAITHAM NOURI

Published Thursday 4 Jul 2019

Title: Sudan’s message to the world

Sudan needs a government of technocrats and interest-based relationships with other countries if its political transition is to succeed, says Deputy Chairman of National Umma Party Mariam Al-Sadiq Al-Mahdi from Khartoum

Photo caption: Sudan’s message to the world

Sudan’s opposition Alliance of Freedom and Change (AFC) returned to the capital Khartoum after a two-day visit to Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital, where its delegation held meetings with leaders of the African Union (AU) and African ambassadors “to update them on the situation in Khartoum.”

The AFC delegation comprised opposition figures Wagdi Saleh, Hassan Abdel-Ati, Monser Al-Tayed and Moetaz Saleh, in addition to Deputy Chairman of the opposition National Umma Party (NUP) Mariam Al-Sadiq Al-Mahdi.

It also included Mona Arko Minawi, head of the Sudan Liberation Army-Minni Minawi (SLA-MM) and Yassir Arman, deputy chairman of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N), militarily active in the Blue Nile and South Kordofan states.

Al-Mahdi, a physician, has been one of the “staunchest opponents” of the 30-year regime of ousted former president Omar Al-Bashir who toppled her father’s government in June 1989.

Since the onset of negotiations between the Transitional Military Council (TMC) and the AFC, the umbrella bloc that includes the NUP headed by Mariam’s father Al-Sadiq Al-Mahdi, the physician has been a member of the team negotiating with the TMC.

She did not take part in the latest round of negotiations that took place after communications were temporarily severed between the TMC and AFC, however. Sitting in her stead was Ibrahim Al-Amin.

“These negotiations are part of an attempt to break the ranks of the AFC,” Mariam Al-Mahdi told Al-Ahram Weekly in an interview from Khartoum. “But it is normal to change the members of the negotiating delegation, particularly if the talks take a long time, as is the case with Sudan.”

Like her father, she has been no stranger to jail and self-exile. But she has always preferred to stay in Khartoum to make fiery statements against Al-Bashir’s regime and take part in opposition activities over the past two decades.

With the eruption of the nationwide protests that toppled Al-Bashir on 6 April, Al-Mahdi ended her self-exile and returned from London, despite facing threats from Sudan’s security forces, according to family sources.

Al-Mahdi was not arrested when she arrived in Sudan, but she was later arrested along with her sister Rabah on charges of illegal protests. The sisters were fined, but they refused to pay.

Al-Mahdi told the Weekly that the AFC’s visit to Addis Ababa was “important. We met the chairperson of the AU Commission and a number of African ambassadors to put them in the picture about what is happening in Sudan.”

“The AU has suspended Sudan’s membership until authority is handed over to a civilian government. This is in line with AU agreements,” she said.

The AU also froze Burkina Faso’s membership following the overthrow of dictator Blaise Compaore in 2014 within the framework of the 2003 Protocol on Amendments to the Constitutive Act of the African Union. The AU had earlier granted the TMC three months to hand over power to a civilian government.

Al-Mahdi pointed to the “positive environment” in Addis Ababa that houses the headquarters of the AU Commission. Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed had also stepped in to mediate between the AFC and TMC, she said.

She accused the TMC of “stalling in handing over authority” to civilians. “We don’t want to end one period of authoritarian rule to be handed over to another one. We want a government of technocrats as soon as possible,” she added.

Regarding accusations made by the TMC that it was the AFC that was “stalling the negotiations,” Al-Mahdi said that “this is not true. We accepted Ethiopia’s mediation to resume the talks, albeit with conditions, such as investigating the dispersal of the sit-in [in front of the army headquarters in central Khartoum], the resumption of Internet services and freeing the detainees.”

“We suspended the successful civil disobedience out of a desire to build trust, offer our good will and show our commitment to the negotiations. The TMC has not responded to any of our demands.”

NUP head Al-Sadiq Al-Mahdi had rejected the calls for a general strike and civil disobedience on the grounds that these were “escalatory measures” against the TMC, which he called a “partner in change.”

TMC Spokesperson Shamseddin Al-Kebashi said that elements from the armed forces had dispersed the sit-in “without receiving orders from general command.”

He said the army was intent on investigating their conduct and would punish them if they were found to have contravened orders.

Activists have pointed accusing fingers at the Rapid Support Forces (RDF) led by General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemedti). The Sudan Doctors’ Union said 118 Sudanese were killed in the incident, while the Ministry of Health put the figure at 46.

Al-Mahdi avoided implicating any specific party, saying “let’s leave it to a neutral investigating committee” instead.

She stated that she was coordinating with Saudi Arabia and the UAE after she and her father had received the Riyadh and Abu Dhabi ambassadors at their house in Omdurman.

“We want to establish interest-based relationships with all the countries in the world. We don’t want relationships between rulers that are then terminated with the end of their regime. We want relationships based on clear economic and political interests and relationships that don’t change no matter how governments change,” Al-Mahdi told the Weekly.

“Sudan has plenty to offer the Arab world and Africa, primarily in the economic field. We don’t want the aid we received during Al-Bashir’s rule. We want investments that will be to the benefit of all,” she added.

“Why is it that when Ethiopia offered to mediate, no one in Sudan objected, and then their voices grew louder when it came to Sudan’s relationship with Gulf countries? The Gulf countries, Egypt and Ethiopia are our neighbours. This is a fact no one can deny,” Al-Mahdi said.

“Everybody wants to end the state of stagnation, but any hint at holding elections within nine months or [anytime soon] is refused,” she stated.

Regarding news that the TMC could ask Al-Sadiq Al-Mahdi to form a civilian government, Mariam Al-Mahdi said that “this can’t take place unless there is nationwide accord from the TMC, the AFC, and all the groups in Sudan. It is a big step that can’t be taken without a consensus.”

 *A version of this article appears in print in the 4 July, 2019 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly under the headline: Sudan’s message to the world

SOURCE: http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/2/8/337250/World/Region/Sudan’s-message-to-the-world.aspx