Burhan, Hemetti end dispute discuss security, political process in Sudan
March 11, 2023 (KHARTOUM) – The leaders of the military component in Sudan on Saturday ended a rift that erupted between them recently and agreed to work together to restore security and settle the political crisis.
Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, head of the Sovereign Council and his deputy Mohamed Hamdan Daglo Hemetti diverged over the implementation of the framework agreement and the expansion of Rapid Support Forces in the country.
After over a month of strained relations, a statement issued by the Sovereign Council said that al-Burhan and Hemetti held a meeting at the army headquarters for the first time after the eruption of the dispute.
“The meeting reviewed the political and security situation in the country and decided to form a joint security committee from the regular forces, the relevant state agencies and the (signatory) armed movements to follow up on the security situation in the country,” said the short statement
“Also, the meeting discussed the progress of the political process and the need to move forward with the agreed arrangements,” further added the statement without more details.
Hemetti call to commit to the signed framework agreement while al-Burhan says he would not hand over power before the inclusion of more political parties.
Monti Carro, a news outlet that deals extensively with the RSF affairs, reported that the meeting took place after an encounter on Friday between Hemetti with the director of general intelligence, police deputy director, director of military intelligence, and the head of the RSF intelligence service.
On Saturday morning before the meeting, the army spokesman issued a statement reiterating its commitment to the political process and the formation of a single army in the country.
The signatories to the political framework agreement welcomed the army’s statement and called to expedite efforts to form a transitional civilian government.
In line with the framework agreement, the army has to hand over power to a civilian government. In addition, all the armed forces including the paramilitary RSF and former rebel groups should be integrated into the national army.
Two former armed and their political allies refuse to join the framework agreement. They call to include more political forces in the process and to keep the 2019 political declaration that preserves their participation in the new cabinet.
Their call is rejected by the pro-democracy alliance, FFC, saying the inclusion of the former regime’s allies would not allow to achieve the slogan of the revolution and hamper the democratic transitional process.
The rejection of the non-signatories to join the deal encouraged General al-Burhan to come up again with his old demand to open the process for the other political groups.
The framework agreement that al-Burhan signed had already defined who is eligible to participate in the selection of the non-partisan and independent transitional government and who can join the deal.
(ST)