SRF rejects military proposal to abolish Sudan’s Sovereign Council
November 4, 2022 (KHARTOUM) – The Sudanese Revolutionary Front (SRF) rejected a proposal by the military component to replace the Sovereignty Council with a head of state, stressing that such a change violates the Juba peace agreement.
A delegation of the SRF leadership, headed by Al-Hadi Idris, with the participation of Tahir Hajar Malik Agar, and Osama Saeed held a meeting with the Trilateral Mechanism headed by Volker Perthes, on Wednesday, to discuss the proposals submitted by the military component on the draft transitional constitution drafted by the Steering Committee of the Sudanese Bar Association (SBA).
SRF Spokesman Saeed told Sudan Tribune on Friday that they had informed the tripartite facilitation panel f their reservations about the military-proposed abolition of the collegial presidency and the appointment of one person who would be the head of the state.
“The abolition of the Sovereign Council is a clear violation of the Juba Peace Agreement because it contradicts the peace agreement and the draft transitional constitution,” he said because it would prevent the peace signatory groups from participating in the presidency as it provided in the power-sharing chapter of the agreement.
Osama underscored that the Juba Peace Agreement is a pact between the signatory parties and it serves as the legal basis for the United Nations Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan (UNITAMS).
The UN, AU and IGAD mechanism is conducting a series of consultation meetings with various political parties to facilitate a solution to the political crisis in the country.
Three SRF leaders are members of the military-led Sovereign Council.
Saeed further stated that the SRF expressed several reservations about the SBA draft transitional constitution which serves as a basis for the ongoing discussions for the formation of a civilian transitional government ending the military rule.
“The preamble of the SBA draft constitution says the peace agreement will be implemented ‘after evaluation’, but the implementation of the agreement is binding on the parties and does not depend on any other condition,” he said.
Also, he voiced their objection to what was stated in the draft constitution about reviewing the peace agreement “with the consent of the signatories”.
“What is meant by reviewing, and what are the points they wish to amend?” He wondered.
The SRF spokesman stressed the need to preserve the benefits of the peace agreement, which includes participation in the Sovereign Council and the transitional government.
He also said their reservations include other issues, including the formation of the Constitutional Court and the commissions.
The SRF is part of the part of Forces for Freedom and Change (FFC) mainstream.
The SLM of Minni Minnawi and JEM of Gibril Ibrahim, which are not part of the FFC, reject the proposed review of the Juba Peace Agreement and call to amend the 2019 constitutional declaration.
(ST)