Former Sudan PM requests meetings with army and RSF commanders

The new Civil Democratic Forces alliance (Tagaddum) has requested Lt Gen Abdelfattah El Burhan, commander-in-chief of the Sudan Armed Forces, to agree on an urgent meeting to discuss three urgent issues. A similar request has been sent to Lt Gen Mohamed ‘Hemedti’ Dagalo, commander of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces.

Abdallah Hamdok, prime minister during the transitional period following the ousting of President Omar Al Bashir in 2019, and who was recently chosen as chair of the new Tagaddum alliance (‘progress’ in Arabic), signed the two meeting requests.

Khaled Omar, deputy head of the Sudanese Congress Party and former spokesperson for the Forces for Freedom and Change (FFC) explained to Radio Dabanga yesterday that the they want to discuss three urgent matters.

“The first issue concerns the protection of civilians. With the daily expansion of the war, civilians in many areas throughout Sudan are paying the price,” he said. “There must be clear arrangements set in place to stop the violence to which millions of Sudanese are subjected. This cannot be postponed.”

The provision of humanitarian aid is the second issue. “The noose is tightening day after day on millions of Sudanese inside the country, and in the many refugee camps in neighbouring countries. This also requires agreement on clear arrangements for humanitarian access to those who need it,” Omar said.

“The third urgent matter is a stop to the fighting. We need to agree on steps that lead to a political process that ends the war and the establishment of sustainable peace in Sudan.”

The politician further explained that leaders of Tagaddum are in contact with international and regional unions and organisations.

“We are coordinating our efforts to stop the war with the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), the African Union, and other institutions. Together, we now base our next steps on the success of the IGAD to bring together the commanders of the warring parties in a face-to-face meeting to be held in the near future,” he stated. “This should lead to an immediate and unconditional ceasefire after which the reaching a just and final peace in Sudan is to be discussed.”

In November, Tagaddum developed a roadmap, containing a proposal for a comprehensive ceasefire with effective monitoring mechanisms, ways of support for the Jeddah platform’s ongoing efforts in achieving a cessation of hostilities, agreeing on principles that end the violence for good and pave the way for civilian democratic governance, and an advisory meeting, with international support, on developing a comprehensive political process leading to democratic governance, including a new constitution.

The Jeddah negotiations platform, established by Saudi Arabia and the USA not long after the war erupted in mid-April, has not led to a lasting ceasefire agreement.