Sudan’s framework agreement deals with political not military issues: al-Burhan
December 14, 2022 (KHARTOUM) – The political framework agreement is not a settlement that harms the armed forces, but rather aims to end the political crisis in the country, said General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, on Wednesday.
On December 5, the head of the military-led government and Commander in Chief of the Sudanese army signed a framework agreement with the political forces paving the way for the formation of a civilian government and the withdrawal of the army from politics.
The signatories will resume soon talks on five pending issues including the security reform.
In a speech to Sudanese troops at the Al-Maaquil military base in the north of the country, al-Burhan reiterated that he would not accept anything that affect the military establishment during the transitional period and that there is nothing to worry about.
“Do not listen to what politicians say about military reform that people are afraid of it. No one to interfere in the affairs of the army at all,” al-Burhan told his troops according to a video released by the official news agency SUNA.
“People are hearing that there is a settlement. There is no settlement, but there is an agreement that includes points that we, the military, are convinced of. It deals with matters that will save our country and lead it to safety. Therefore, we have approved it and we will support it until it becomes a reality,” he stressed.
Since last October, al-Burhan has started a series of meetings with the army officers and troops to brief them about the political talks they have engaged with the civilian forces to restore a civilian transitional government after his coup of October 2021.
Also, he accused the Sudanese Islamists of fomenting a coup to ensure their return to power again and admitted they were plotting against him.
Al-Burhan said the civilian forces that they agreed upon are the forces that can lead the country in the next stage, and they “are not missing any people”.
“I am sure that if (these forces) come together and agree, this will pave a way out of the current crisis,” he said alluding to the armed groups that refuse to join the framework agreement.
The Forces for Freedom and Change (FFC) say that there is a need to reform the military establishment, which was distorted and politicized by the Islamic regime. Also, they say the Rapid Support Forces and the combatants of the former rebel groups must be integrated within the national army.
Al-Burhan said that the military reform includes a review of the rules and regulations governing military activities. Be reiterating that the armed force can do these reforms alone in a manner that guarantees the interest of the country.
He also reiterated his rejection of the interference of the transitional government in the affairs of the army, pointing out that the army has no objection to working under the command of a legitimate and elected civilian government chosen by the people in accordance with free and transparent elections.
On November 10, the tripartite mechanism said that the military component does not want an unelected civilian government to interfere in the army’s internal affairs.
(ST)