Washington is required to push security officials to engage in dialogue
The transition to democracy in Sudan needs American support
General Hemedti supports a national program for transitional justice.
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Sudanese protesters calling for democracy.
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It is clear that Sudan is now experiencing a severe crisis, as former President Omar Hassan Ahmed Al-Bashir was overthrown in 2019, and the transitional government that came after Al-Bashir included representatives from the army and civil society, but the power-sharing arrangements collapsed and security officials took control, and there has been no government in Sudan since About a year, and the conflict continued in Darfur, and other war-torn regions such as South Kordofan and the Blue Nile state, and this was an appropriate opportunity for Russia to benefit from the mineral wealth in Sudan, and it extracted gold to support its economy under Western sanctions.
The two most senior generals in Sudan, General Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan and General Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, “known as Hamidti,” seized power on October 25, 2021. They arrested the prime minister, imposed emergency law, and attacked peaceful demonstrators calling for democracy.
The United States strongly condemned this coup, suspended $700 million in aid for the transitional period in Sudan, and withdrew its support for $50 billion in debt relief.
Engage in dialogue
In the absence of a government, the resulting void has been filled by a number of players such as the Wagner Group, a mercenary force from Russia led by Yevgeny Prigozhin.
When the war in Ukraine began, Hemeti happened to be in Moscow with a trade delegation.
But he later admitted that his visit was misplaced, and he is now seeking close cooperation with the United States.
Regardless of the mistakes made by the Sudanese, Washington must now push security officials to engage in dialogue in the service of peace and progress in Sudan.
During my meetings in Khartoum at the beginning of this month, Hemedti ratified a civil constitution for Sudan and the holding of national elections in 2023. He stressed that civil groups, such as the Forces for the Defense of Freedom and Change and the Resistance Committees, must be part of the future of the government. Sudan democracy, warning that any agreement without their participation will fail and spark conflict in the state.
Trials
In addition, Hemedti criticized the Islamists associated with al-Bashir, denouncing their efforts to infiltrate the state system with the aim of changing the character of Sudan, through the institutionalization of Islam.
Hemedti supports a national program for transitional justice, stressing that the security forces, including members of the Rapid Support Forces, which are said to have committed many crimes against the Sudanese people, must be investigated and held accountable.
It also supports a system of truth-seeking, which draws on Sudanese traditions and international best practices with the aim of promoting sustainable peace, recovery and national reconciliation.
All Sudanese interlocutors regret the divisions in Sudanese society.
They acknowledge that dialogue is very important to reach consensus for the transitional political phase in the country.
But generals should be judged by what they do, not what they say.
umbrella of civil government
Burhan and Hemedti must support one army under the umbrella of the civilian government.
In addition, the security officials who committed crimes against the Sudanese people must be prosecuted.
We are still waiting to hear from the committee investigating the events that took place on June 3, 2021, when civilian demonstrators were killed and their bodies thrown into the Nile River.
If security officials can overcome their differences, civil society will unite around a plan to restore civilian rule.
There are fundamental differences between the "Forces for the Defense of Freedom and Change" and the "Resistance Committees in the Neighborhoods", with personal differences exacerbated by the dispute over Sudan's constitution.
The Forces for the Defense of Freedom and Change believe that the 2019 constitution should be updated, while the Sudanese Bar Association has rewritten the entire Sudanese constitution, starting from scratch.
That is why all parties must come to terms with these differences.
Violence broke out again in Darfur and the outskirts of Sudan.
The "Juba" agreement reached in 2020 calls for recognition of the security forces and the army, and a roadmap for transitional justice that includes compensation and apologies, in addition to specific formulas for ethnic groups to participate in the political transitional phase in Sudan.
The groups in eastern Sudan that have not signed the agreement should also participate as part of the overall effort to revive the agreement.
The need for a greater role for the United States
The Sudanese people became divided, but they all agreed on the need for a more proactive role from the United States.
They want US President Joe Biden's administration to help mediate between the security services, civil society factions, the army and civil society.
Most of all, the new government needs a clear stance on Russia.
Especially with regard to the establishment of air and naval bases on the Red Sea.
The United States wants to put an end to the crisis that has afflicted Sudan for several decades.
Washington is the largest donor of humanitarian aid to Sudan, but open relief is not sustainable.
In addition, it is in the national interest of the United States to provide assistance to Sudan to resolve all its differences and to form a civilian government.
Stability in Sudan will have a ripple effect across the Horn of Africa, affecting war-torn countries such as Ethiopia.
In the absence of US participation, there are other countries waiting to enhance their economic exploitation, not to mention undemocratic activities.
• Regardless of the mistakes made by the Sudanese, Washington must now push security officials to engage in dialogue to serve peace and progress in Sudan.
• Stability in Sudan will have a ripple effect throughout the Horn of Africa, affecting war-torn countries such as Ethiopia.
• Hemedti criticized the Islamists associated with Al-Bashir, denouncing their efforts to infiltrate the state system with the aim of changing the character of Sudan, through the institutionalization of Islam.
David Phillips ■ Director of the Peacemaking and Human Rights Program at Columbia University
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