Armed groups reject political settlement between Sudan’s FFC and military
October 13, 2022 (KHARTOUM) – Two armed movements of the National Consensus Forces (NCF) voiced their rejection of a possible political settlement to form a technocratic government stressing their adherence to the power-sharing deal negotiated under the Juba Peace Agreement.
The leaders of the military component and the Forces for Freedom and Change (FFC) confirmed the ongoing talks on a deal restoring a civilian transitional government in line with a draft constitution proposed by the Sudanese Bar Association.
The constitutional proposal is supposed to replace the 2019 constitutional declaration and its amended version of 2020 which includes a power-sharing deal between the civilian forces, the military and former rebel groups.
“The Movements cling to their share of power under the peace agreement,” Noraldaem Taha NCF Deputy Secretary-General and Media Advisor of the SLM leader Minni Minnawi told Sudan Tribune on Thursday.
Taha further added that any political settlement between the military leaders and the FFC would lead to serious consequences, a failed transitional period and a government without popular support.
“We will not be a party to any bilateral agreement,” he stressed.
The NCF groups reject the draft transitional constitution of the Sudanese lawyers and call to maintain the 2019 constitutional document.
Minnawi’s close aide called on the military leaders to remain at the same distance from all the stakeholders and form an agreed civilian government.
“We reject any attempt to impose a constitution or a bilateral government. Also, we will not be a party to any action that does not lead to the stability of Sudan, the transition period and the democratic transition,” he reiterated.
The military leaders stated they are close to a political agreement with the FFC over a transitional government based on the new draft constitution.
For their part, FFC groups confirmed that the head of the Sovereign Council and his deputy accepted the lawyers’ proposals with some reservations they want to discuss.
For his part, Mohamed Zakaria NCF Spokesman and leading member of the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) led by Gibril Ibrahim told Sudan Tribune that they hold on to the political declaration they signed on October 8, with the Sudanese Initiative for Constitutional Arrangements.
“The political declaration specified the tasks of the future transitional government, including the implementation of the peace agreement,” added Zakaria.
(ST)