The date of the "political process" sparks controversy between the Sudanese parties

Popular crowds in support of the Sudanese army in the Nile River State (social networking sites)

Controversy escalated in Sudanese political circles, following the announcement by the Chairman of the Sovereignty Council, Army Commander Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, during his visit to his forces in Gedaref State in the east of the country, that there will be no political process until after the end of the war and the elimination of the rebellion of the Rapid Support Commander, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo “Hemedti.” This was considered by opposition forces to be an attempt to disrupt the political process, remove civilian forces, and keep the military in power and the political scene.

In another position, the Vice President of the Sovereignty Council, Malik Agar, said in a statement after his meeting with Rwandan President Paul Kigame in the capital, Kigali, on Monday, that “the government does not mind engaging in any political process, on the condition that Sudan’s sovereignty and national security are preserved, and that it is comprehensive, without Exclusion of any component of the Sudanese people.”

Since the outbreak of fighting in Khartoum in mid-April, mediators have engaged in efforts to stop the war, and an American-Saudi agreement was reached to devote the Jeddah platform to negotiations between the two parties to the fighting regarding the humanitarian situation, the protection of civilians, and military arrangements to stop the war, and not to include any political aspects.

While the African Union approved a road map to resolve the Sudanese crisis, which includes an immediate and comprehensive cessation of hostilities, an effective humanitarian response to the repercussions of the conflict, the completion of the transitional political process with the participation of all Sudanese parties, and the formation of a democratic civilian government, however, due to the suspension of Sudan’s membership in the African Organization since October 2021, Khartoum did not deal with the plan.

Observers believe that the shortest path to resolving the Sudanese crisis is based on the parties to the conflict agreeing to stop hostilities for a period of no less than 6 months, to restore calm, the return of displaced citizens, and the flow of services, then holding a Sudanese-Sudanese dialogue to reach a political settlement, then approving a comprehensive ceasefire and security arrangements. Sustainable military.

Objectives of proof

The leader of the Sudanese Alliance Party and the Forces of Freedom and Change - Central Council, Maher Abu Al-Goukh, believes that there is a need to coincide between the political process and a permanent ceasefire.

Considering that the procedures and arrangements related to the final ceasefire agreement are technically a military issue, while their implementation is a political measure carried out by the civilian government, as they lead to the constitutional establishment of the country.

Abu Al-Joukh told Al-Jazeera Net, “The army commander wants his position to achieve two things: the first is to ensure the removal of unarmed civilian forces from any presence related to the measures to end the war, and the second is to delay the political process for as long as possible, in the hope of inserting his own project into the army’s continued presence in the constitutional political scene.” “Contrary to what he announced in July 2022 that the army would withdraw from it.”

Abu Al-Joukh explains that “what Al-Burhan is aiming for has no room or option to achieve, except by making the political process subsequent to ending the war, as the army commander seeks to ensure his continuation of constitutional authority again through the agreement to end the war.”

The commander reveals that the army commander asked Kenyan President William Ruto, during his recent visit to Nairobi, to return to work in accordance with the provisions of the 2019 Constitutional Document, which was founded on the partnership between the military and civilians in the Sovereignty Council, but this proposal faltered due to the refusal of the civilian forces, and their adherence to the necessity of the military’s exit from... Politics completely, and they devote themselves to performing their constitutional duties and are subject to the institutions of constitutional civil government.

Power struggle

Political analyst and editor-in-chief of Al-Tayyar newspaper, Othman Mirghani, believes that the phrase “political process” is viewed by each party to calculate the consequences of power after the war, and the possibility of maximizing its gains from it.

Speaking to Al-Jazeera Net, Mirghani said, “The Coordination Alliance of the Civil Democratic Forces (Progress) headed by Abdullah Hamdok seeks a political process that will return him to power after the war, and categorically refuses to form any government before that, so as not to weaken its chances.”

According to Mirghani, the same angle is viewed by Al-Burhan and the political forces that support him, who believe that the war has redrawn the Sudanese political scene on a new reality, which gives a preferential advantage to the political forces that supported the army, and even shared its blood and trenches.

The analyst believes that “war is essentially a political act, and it cannot be separated from the political theses of the various movements, and that it is important for the political forces to begin their activity towards ending the war and shaping the political future from now on, and it is safer to form an executive government to supervise the negotiations between the two warring parties.” “With the management of civil affairs related to the state, and the provision of services to the citizen.”

Foundation stage

The spokesman for the Civil Democratic Forces Coordination (Taqaddum), Osama Saeed, says, “The road map presented by the coalition to resolve the crisis stipulates first reaching a cessation of hostility through direct negotiation between the army and the Rapid Support Forces, then launching a political process towards a permanent ceasefire, and ending the war with an end.” Its causes and roots.

According to Saeed’s interview with Al Jazeera Net, the comprehensive political process does not exclude the National Congress Party - the former ruler - and its facades, and he believes that “the ongoing war cannot be resolved militarily, and cannot be ended without a political process that addresses the roots of the crisis in the country, and approves a foundational transitional phase to overcome all matters.” Structural and structural imbalances that have accompanied the building of the state since its independence.”

On the other hand, the leader of the Democratic Alliance for Justice Party and the Forces for Freedom and Change - Democratic Bloc, Mubarak Ardoul, believes that “the political process cannot be delayed until after the war, because it will lead to its end, because the fighting broke out for political reasons and agenda.”

Speaking to Al Jazeera Net, Ardoul believes that "the political forces should not be punished and the political process should be disrupted and subject to the end of the war, because of the positions of the Forces of Freedom and Change - the Central Council, which were linked to the rebel militia," in reference to the Rapid Support Forces.

Ardoul calls for a comprehensive political process that does not exclude anyone, except those who refuse, and parallel to the continuation of the fighting, until it stops. If a Sudanese-Sudanese dialogue is held, it will lead to finding a political solution that will accelerate the steps to end the war.

Source: Al Jazeera