{"id":171578,"date":"2021-03-25T12:44:00","date_gmt":"2021-03-25T12:44:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dabangasudan.preview.websight.nl\/sudan-s-splm-n-el-hilu-and-the-alliance-of-civilian-nuba-mountains-forces-sign-agreement-on-secularism-and-democratic-self-determination\/"},"modified":"2024-03-01T09:56:09","modified_gmt":"2024-03-01T08:56:09","slug":"sudan-s-splm-n-el-hilu-and-the-alliance-of-civilian-nuba-mountains-forces-sign-agreement-on-secularism-and-democratic-self-determination","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.dabangasudan.org\/en\/all-news\/article\/sudan-s-splm-n-el-hilu-and-the-alliance-of-civilian-nuba-mountains-forces-sign-agreement-on-secularism-and-democratic-self-determination","title":{"rendered":"Sudan’s SPLM-N El Hilu and Nuba Mountains Forces sign agreement on secularism and self-determination"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Sudanese People\u2019s Liberation Movement-North, headed Abdelaziz by El Hilu, and the Civil Nuba Mountains Forces alliance agreed to adopt the principle of secularism at a joint meeting in Juba, the capital of South Sudan.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The principle of secularism, which is based on the separation of religion from the state, is one of the most important advocacy points of the SPLM-N El Hilu, together with\u00a0self-determination for South Kordofan and the\u00a0Blue Nile state.<\/p>\n

According to a joint statement issued on Tuesday after the signing of the protocol, the two parties also agreed to uphold the principle of the right to self-determination for all Sudanese peoples.<\/p>\n

The statement emphasised the importance of restructuring the Sudanese military and security forces so that they reflect the regional, ethnic, cultural, religious, and gender diversity that is present in Sudan.<\/p>\n

The agreement also stipulated a thorough review of all laws and customs related to the ownership, use, and possession of land and the empowerment of women.<\/p>\n

The two parties agreed to work hard to implement the joint protocol and to organise specialised and popular platforms to involve \u2018all the masses of our people\u2019 and to promote peace and democratic transition.<\/p>\n

Women’s support<\/strong><\/p>\n

Earlier this month, a coalition\u00a0of women\u2019s organisations announced their support<\/a> for the negotiating position of the SPLM-N El Hilu after\u00a0a\u00a0delegation of the women’s organisations\u00a0organised a 16-day visit to\u00a0the areas controlled by the SPLM-N El Hilu.<\/p>\n

They confirmed that the SPLM-N\u2019s stance enjoys widespread popular support in these areas and expressed their support for the SPLM-N\u2019s stance on secularism and the necessity of religious freedom.<\/p>\n

The women organisations also expressed their support for the SPLM-N presence in the Nuba Mountains and for people of the Nuba Mountains’ right to self-determination, to\u00a0realise justice and human dignity and to fight exclusion and discrimination.<\/p>\n

Negotiations<\/strong><\/p>\n

El Hilu\u00a0withdrew from the Juba peace talks<\/a>\u00a0in protest of the chairmanship of the government delegation by\u00a0Deputy Chairman of the Sovereign Council\u00a0Lt Gen Mohamed Hamdan \u2018Hemeti\u2019,\u00a0who is also Commander-in-Chief of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia. The rebels accuse the RSF forces of committing \u201cheinous crimes\u201d against civilians in various parts of Sudan.<\/p>\n

The SPLM-N El Hilu has signed agreements with activist groups\u00a0and is cooperating with them to reach their goals. He has also expressed his willingness to negotiate<\/a> with the Sudanese government.<\/p>\n

In November, El Hilu\u00a0reaffirmed\u00a0his\u00a0eagerness<\/a> \u201cto reach a peaceful, just, and comprehensive political settlement of the Sudanese problem that would put an end to the civil wars in Sudan\u201d.<\/p>\n