Sudan Explainer: Peace Talks Begin Amid Tensions
Sudan’s transitional government will be holding peace talks with the Sudanese Revolutionary Front (SRF) from October 14 to December 14. A senior official from the SRF stated that “the transitional government should end war in Darfur and integrate the rebels into the armed forces as an agenda of peace” and these talks will provide a forum for them to negotiate these conditions. [viii] The SRF – a member of the pro-democracy coalition that forced Omar al-Bashir from power in April – is looking for representation in the transitional government. [ix]
On April 11, 2019 the Sudanese military ended Omar al-Bashir’s 30-year dictatorship after months of pro-democracy protests that began last December. [i] Defense officials decided the military would rule for two years, followed by elections; however, demonstrators continued to demand a civilian government. [ii] On June 3, security forces killed over 100 people after opening fire on a pro-democracy protest in Khartoum. [iii]
On August 19, the governing military body and a coalition of opposition groups signed a political accord to form a three-year power sharing transitional council. [iv] The transitional council will consist of five generals, five civilians, one at-large member, selected by the rest of the council, a 300-member legislative body, and the new Prime Minister, Abdalla Hamdok. [v, vi] In response, the SRF – a coalition of rebel groups from Darfur, Blue Nile, and South Kordofan – rejected the agreement as it does not represent nor consider the proposals of their alliance. [vii] Making peace with rebel groups, a main priority of the transitional government, is a primary condition for Sudan’s removal from the U.S. State Sponsors of Terrorism list. [x]
Sources
[i]. “Sudan Crisis: What You Need to Know.” BBC News. BBC, August 16, 2019. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-48511226.
[ii]. “Timeline: Key Dates in Sudan's Political Upheaval.” Reuters. Thomson Reuters, July 30, 2019. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-sudan-politics-timeline/timeline-key-dates-in-sudans-political-upheaval-idUSKCN1UP1JX.
[iii]. “Sudan Crackdown: All the Latest Updates.” News | Al Jazeera. Al Jazeera, June 13, 2019. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/06/cloneofsudan-crackdown-protesters-latest-updates-190606083751943.html.
[iv]. “Sudan Forms 11-Member Sovereign Council, Headed by Al-Burhan.” Sudan News | Al Jazeera, August 20, 2019. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/08/sudan-forms-11-member-sovereign-council-headed-al-burhan-190820204821614.html.
[v]. “Sudan Forms 11-Member Sovereign Council, Headed by Al-Burhan.” Sudan News | Al Jazeera, August 20, 2019. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/08/sudan-forms-11-member-sovereign-council-headed-al-burhan-190820204821614.html.
[vi]. “South Sudan's Peace Process 'Precarious, but Progress in Being Made', Security Council Hears | UN News.” United Nations. United Nations, September 18, 2019. https://news.un.org/en/story/2019/09/1046682.
[vii]. “Rebels: Delegation Negotiating with Sudan's Transitional Military Council 'Does Not Represent SRF'.” Radio Dabanga, April 30, 2019. https://www.dabangasudan.org/en/all-news/article/rebels-delegation-negotiating-with-sudan-s-transitional-military-council-does-not-represent-srf.
[viii]. Magdy, Samy. “Sudan's Rebels Want a Role in Transitional Government.” AP NEWS. Associated Press, August 14, 2019. https://www.apnews.com/cf6e96d271ea4514b73a2fbc0a512693.
[ix]. Magdy, Samy. “Sudan's Rebels Want a Role in Transitional Government.” AP NEWS. Associated Press, August 14, 2019. https://www.apnews.com/cf6e96d271ea4514b73a2fbc0a512693.
[x]. “Sudan's Prime Minister to Join Peace Talks with Rebels, Attempt to Expunge Khartoum from US 'Terror' List:” The Arab Weekly, September 10, 2019. https://thearabweekly.com/sudans-prime-minister-join-peace-talks-rebels-attempt-expunge-khartoum-us-terror-list.
