UN, AU and IGAD: Sudan Political Process enters decisive phase requiring wide participation
Khartoum, Sudan (PANA)- In one of the rarest events of its type, representatives of the United Nations, the African Union and the East African Development Authority IGAD, Monday urged Sudanese stakeholders to close their ranks and reach an agreement ending their current widening rift.
Mohamed Belaiche, Ambassador for the African Union to Sudan, Volker Perthes, United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Sudan, and Ismail Wais, Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Special Envoy, in an article in the media expressed their hope that a final deal would be signed to usher in civilian rule.
“We, in the Trilateral Mechanism, hope that all parties that share the goal of civilian-led democratic transformation will work to accelerate the completion of these stages and reach a Sudanese-Sudanese solution acceptable to and with the participation of the broadest possible majority, in order to form a transitional government to manage the rest of the transitional period.
"We will keep supporting this Sudanese identity of the political process the dense article that summarized the whole political developments since the UNITAMS was created, over two years now."
It related that after the signing of the Framework Political Agreement between a considerable numbers of Sudanese stakeholders on 5 December 2022, the political process has entered a new and decisive stage.
It argued that the first phase succeeded, with capable Sudanese efforts, in establishing the foundations for a peaceful dialogue process, in which the voice of logic rises, where violence is dimmed, in order to reach a Sudanese-owned political solution.
A solution that effectively ends the coup of 25 October 2021 and ensures the restoration of the civilian-led transition towards peace and democracy in Sudan.
“This second stage is now focusing on important national issues related to the stability of the transition in Sudan. A credible civilian government will be formed once acceptable consensus around these key issues is attained to reach a final political agreement and new constitutional arrangements,“ they wrote.
The articles argued that in this stage, the Trilateral Mechanism was playing a facilitation role by providing technical support and proposals to the different stakeholders and enabling discussions among them.
“This is not limited to the signatories of the framework agreement but involves the participation of the main revolutionary forces that have expressed reservations about the framework agreement.
"Their voices in these discussions are necessary and important, to ensure the implementation and sustainability of the resulting agreement.”
However, it cautioned that the sharp rejectionist position taken by some revolutionary forces in Sudan against this framework agreement should prompt pro-democracy forces to work harder to involve these skeptical voices and ensure their contribution in developing a consensual agreement to overcome these reservations.
It added that “the common goal, after all, is to establish a civilian government and lay the foundations for democratic governance.
The process of change and transition towards democracy in Sudan is a gradual one, and it will not achieve all of its goals overnight. The forces that want to democratize Sudan may differ about the best way to reach this goal.
The representatives of the three world and regional bodies underlined that in the current political process and at this stage, “no one has the right to monopolize the pro-democracy and pro-change agenda.
"Everyone has the right to participate and contribute to shaping the democratic future of Sudan,” they said.
The article explained, therefore, that the efforts of the Trilateral Mechanism would continue to work towards involving all national forces interested in the democratic civil transformation of the country to participate in the workshops and conferences that were now taking place around five key issues.
These relate to the dismantling of the former regime, security sector reform, justice and transitional justice, implementation of the Juba Agreement and the question of Eastern Sudan.
They added that the recommendations emanating from these workshops would provide rich substance for the next phase, which would include direct negotiations between the different stakeholders to produce a final agreement.
“Issues such as building of one professional Sudanese army, transitional justice, or planning for the practical implementation of the Juba Peace Agreement on the ground and others could not be limited to the signatories of the framework agreement alone, but also required the broad participation of affected citizens, civil society, women, academics, and other national political actors.
The Trilateral Mechanism will ensure maintaining the participation of the 60 per cent of non-signatories from the revolutionary camp in all relevant activities as was illustrated in the first conference on the dismantling of 30 June regime.
It stressed that the trilateral mechanism would also continue to coordinate closely with the international community in supporting the Sudanese people to realize these objectives.
A final agreement to return to civilian rule and forming a new civilian transitional government on this basis will also guarantee that Sudan can fully re-establish its relations with the international community with all the benefits which this entails for its citizens.
“We, in the Trilateral Mechanism, hope that all parties that share the goal of civilian-led democratic transformation will work to accelerate the completion of these stages and reach a Sudanese-Sudanese solution acceptable to and with the participation of the broadest possible majority, in order to form a transitional government to manage the rest of the transitional period.
"We will keep supporting this Sudanese identity of the political process. We remain by their side to work hand-in-hand towards a final settlement that will bring this dark chapter to a close and a return to the path towards freedom, peace and justice for all,” it concluded.
-0-PANA MO/RA Jan302023
