Civilian coalition focused on Sudan’s democratic transition in connection with an end to the fighting

HERE is a copy of a tweet by US Ambassador to Sudan John Godfrey @USAMBSudan posted 1 Aug 2023 2:28 pm. It says: "Useful meetings yesterday in Cairo with representatives from Sudanese civil society, political coalitions and parties to discuss their efforts to form a broadly representative, inclusive and robust civilian coalition focused on restoring Sudan’s democratic transition in connection with an end to the fighting."

Useful meetings yesterday in Cairo with representatives from Sudanese civil society, political coalitions and parties to discuss their efforts to form a broadly representative, inclusive and robust civilian coalition focused on restoring Sudan’s democratic transition in…

— John Godfrey (@USAMBSudan) August 1, 2023

HERE is a copy of Mr Godfrey's previous tweet posted 31 Jul 2023 9:31 pm. It says: "Welcomed the opportunity to visit Egypt to consult with partners on efforts to stop the fighting in Sudan, and to meet in Cairo with a group of Embassy Khartoum locally-engaged staff. Thank you to Egypt for its efforts, including on behalf of Sudanese fleeing the fighting in their country."

Welcomed the opportunity to visit Egypt to consult with partners on efforts to stop the fighting in Sudan, and to meet in Cairo with a group of Embassy Khartoum locally-engaged staff. Thank you to Egypt for its efforts, including on behalf of Sudanese fleeing the fighting in…

— John Godfrey (@USAMBSudan) July 31, 2023

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HERE is a full copy of a report by Sudan Tribune - sudantribune.com

Published Saturday 05 August 2023

Sudan’s FFC hold consultations with various forces for broad civilian front

August 5, 2023 (KHARTOUM) – The Forces for Freedom and Change (FFC) have postponed the announcement of their new roadmap to resolve the Sudanese crisis as they consult with additional political parties and armed groups to establish a broad civil front, except the dissolved National Congress Party (NCP).

A member of the FFC Executive Council reiterated that the coalition adopted a new plan to end the ongoing armed conflict and restore a civilian government in Sudan. The move confirms implicitly the abandonment of the Political Framework Agreement of December 5, 2022.

Speaking on a Twitter platform on Saturday, Hassan disclosed that meetings on building an expanded civil front have already commenced with several organizations and national parties.

He emphasized that anyone opposing the war in Sudan is a crucial part of this civil front, but the dissolved party of the former regime cannot be part of the future solution.

The coalition believes that delaying the release of the FFC’s vision will enable further consultation with other civil and political national forces, contributing to the establishment of the civil front.

Last week, Yasir Arman, a prominent member of the pro-democracy alliance, criticized the African Union’s plans to include the banned NCP of Omer al-Bashir in an intra-Sudanese meeting they plan to hold in Addis Ababa on August 25.

Various regional and international plans to resolve the political crisis in Sudan propose halting the fighting between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), as well as facilitating a national conference to discuss the democratic transition and the formation of a civilian government.

The FFC spokesperson stated that contacts with the Arab Socialist Baath Party had not ceased even before the outbreak of the war. Additionally, they reached out to the Communist Party and several civil and political forces, along with armed groups, in order to unite the civil front and halt the war.

The FFC official expressed hope that these efforts would yield tangible results soon.

Emphasizing the urgency, Hassan stressed that a permanent ceasefire is a top priority, as it would allow citizens to return to their homes and facilitate humanitarian aid and reconstruction.

Some armed groups including the SLM of Minni Minnawi and the JEM of Girbil Ibrahim refused to join the framework agreement saying they cannot accept to be under a new coalition controlled by the FFC groups.

Image: FFC Spokesman Gaffar Hassan (L) speaks to Sudanese lawyers in Khartoum on January 25, 2023

View original: https://sudantribune.com/article275811/ 

Related report

Sudan Tribune - Mon 7 Aug 2023

Neighbouring countries craft plan for ending Sudan’s ongoing conflict

In a meeting held in N’Djamena, the foreign ministers of Sudan’s neighbouring countries on Monday gave their endorsement to a comprehensive plan aimed at bringing an end to the four-month-long conflict within the country. 

The two-day gathering of foreign ministers had been convened following a summit of Sudan’s neighbouring leaders last month in Cairo.

Full story: https://sudantribune.com/article275890/

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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: Hamdok & US support for civilian initiatives

THIS tweet by US's Molly Phee (@AsstSecStateAF) dated 10 July 2023 is heartwarming to see. Sudanese PM Hamdok was and still is the best. It was sad to see him treated so badly. Let's hope we hear more of him soon and that he receives full support from his fellow Sudanese. The tweet says:

"Proud to meet with former Sudanese PM Hamdok today to discuss U.S. support for civilian initiatives to chart a new process to establish a civilian-led democratic transition. Agreed on the need to support an inclusive and transparent process that represents the full diversity of the Sudanese people, including civil society, Resistance Committees, the peripheries, youth and women."

Proud to meet with former Sudanese PM Hamdok today to discuss U.S. support for civilian initiatives to chart a new process to establish a civilian-led democratic transition. Agreed on the need to support an inclusive and transparent process that represents the full diversity of… pic.twitter.com/gVDxBGtabd

— Bureau of African Affairs (@AsstSecStateAF) July 10, 2023

The tweet is timestamped 9:03 10 July 2023. 

Note, Dr Hamdok was born in South Kordofan, Sudan and currently resides in the UAE. He was educated at the University of Khartoum in Sudan and the University of Manchester in England, UK. He married fellow economist Muna Abdalla in 1993 in south Manchester. They have two sons; one studying at Exeter University in England, UK as of 2019 and one who graduated from a university in the US in the late 2010s. [Source: Wikipedia]

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IGAD seeks summit to deploy EASF troops in Sudan

IGAD said in a statement today it had agreed to request a summit of another regional body, the 10-member Eastern Africa Standby Force, "to consider the possible deployment of the EASF for the protection of civilians and guarantee humanitarian access". Sudan is a member of both bodies, as are Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia and Uganda. 

Unlike the talks in Jeddah, the IGAD meeting in Addis Ababa today was attended by members of a civilian coalition that shared power with the military in Sudan before a coup in 2021. IGAD said that along with the African Union, it would immediately start a "civilian engagement process" aimed at delivering peace. Read more.

Report by Reuters reprinted at yahoo.com

Reporting by Dawit Endeshaw and Hereward Holland

Writing by Duncan Miriri; Editing by Peter Graff

Published Monday 10 July 2023, 4:18 PM GMT+1 - here is a full copy:

Eastern African bloc seeks summit to deploy regional force in Sudan

ADDIS ABABA (Reuters) - An eastern African bloc called on Monday for a regional summit to consider deploying troops into Sudan to protect civilians, after nearly three months of violence between the army and a paramilitary faction.

Fighting that erupted on April 15 in Khartoum, Sudan's capital, has spread to other parts of the country and driven more than 2.9 million people from their homes.

The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), made up of eight states in and around the Horn of Africa, met in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa to kick-start a peace process for the conflict in Sudan.

But the initiative faced a setback as a delegation from Sudan's army failed to attend the first day of meetings, having rejected Kenya's president as head of the committee facilitating the talks.

IGAD said in a statement it had agreed to request a summit of another regional body, the 10-member Eastern Africa Standby Force, "to consider the possible deployment of the EASF for the protection of civilians and guarantee humanitarian access".

Sudan is a member of both bodies, as are Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia and Uganda.

Diplomatic efforts to halt fighting between Sudan's army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have so far proved ineffective, with competing initiatives creating confusion over how the warring parties might be brought to negotiate.

IGAD said it regretted the absence of a delegation from the Sudan army, which it said had earlier confirmed attendance.

Sudan's foreign affairs ministry, which is controlled by the army, said the delegation did not turn up because IGAD had ignored its request to replace Kenya's President William Ruto as head of the committee spearheading the talks.

Ruto "lacks impartiality in the ongoing crisis," the ministry said through the state news agency. Last month it accused Kenya of harbouring the RSF.

Neither Ruto's office nor the Kenyan ministry of foreign affairs responded immediately when Reuters sought comment. The Kenyan government said last month the president was a neutral arbiter who was duly appointed by the IGAD summit.

Following the meeting, Ruto called for an unconditional ceasefire and the establishment of a humanitarian zone — spanning a radius of 30 kilometres in Khartoum — to aid the delivery of humanitarian assistance.

Talks hosted in Jeddah and sponsored by the United States and Saudi Arabia were suspended last month. Egypt has said it would host a separate summit of Sudan's neighbours on July 13 to discuss ways to end the conflict.

Unlike the talks in Jeddah, the meeting in Addis Ababa was attended by members of a civilian coalition that shared power with the military in Sudan before a coup in 2021.

IGAD said that along with the African Union, it would immediately start a "civilian engagement process" aimed at delivering peace.

FILE PHOTO: Man walks while smoke rises above buildings after aerial bombardment in Khartoum North

(Reporting by Dawit Endeshaw and Hereward Holland; Writing by Duncan Miriri; Editing by Peter Graff)

View original: https://news.yahoo.com/eastern-african-bloc-seeks-summit-151822183.html 

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Related reports

Sudan Watch - 27 May 2023

Eastern Africa Standby Force (EASF) starts 2-week training rapid reaction forces at UN centre in Uganda

https://sudanwatch.blogspot.com/2023/05/eastern-africa-standby-force-easf.html

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