Sudan’s Tagadum coalition unveils vision to end war and rebuild state

April 4, 2024 (ADDIS ABABA) – Sudan’s Coordination Alliance for Democratic Civilian Forces, known as “Progress,” outlined a comprehensive vision on Thursday to end the ongoing war and rebuild the Sudanese state. The announcement comes amid warnings of potential fragmentation and warlord control if the conflict persists.

The Tgadum coalition’s leadership held intensive meetings in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from April 2 to 4. These meetings culminated in a vision document proposing a path towards lasting peace and national reconstruction.

Key steps in the vision

• Humanitarian cessation of hostilities: The proposed approach prioritizes a humanitarian truce to address immediate needs and alleviate civilian suffering.
• Comprehensive ceasefire and confidence building: This will be followed by a comprehensive ceasefire and confidence-building measures to pave the way for a more substantial political process.
• Inclusive negotiations: The vision emphasizes the importance of civil society participation in the negotiations. To avoid stalling progress, negotiations should build upon previous agreements, regardless of the platform where they were reached.
• Regional monitoring: The establishment of a monitoring centre staffed by a joint force from regional countries is proposed to oversee the ceasefire, humanitarian aid delivery, and safe passage for civilians.

The statement underscores the need for a comprehensive political solution through negotiations. This includes establishing clear criteria for participation to prevent the inclusion of groups seeking to undermine the December Revolution and democratic transition.

Rejection of the former regime’s participation:

Tagadum firmly opposes the participation of the dissolved National Congress in its current form. The statement emphasizes that the party’s refusal to dismantle its military, security, and political apparatus renders it incompatible with a democratic transition.

The coalition highlights the importance of addressing the influence of the Islamic Movement and the National Congress within state institutions, particularly the military and security forces. Dismantling these entrenched structures is seen as crucial to achieving a successful democratic transition.

Openness to new participants:

While rejecting the National Congress Party’s participation in its current form, Tagadum expresses openness to other political actors and individuals who have demonstrably embraced the December Revolution’s ideals and objectives. The statement proposes a preliminary meeting followed by a roundtable discussion to build consensus on a comprehensive vision for the political process.

The vision encompasses various aspects of the crisis, including humanitarian Issues such as relief, health, and education. It also includes rebuilding the security and military system, including the creation of a single, professional national army. Finally, the text deals with political Issues covering post-war arrangements, the formation of a transitional government, the drafting of a transitional constitution, and the establishment of mechanisms for elections.

The text does not elaborate on specific plans to expand the coalition or engage holdout groups that did not sign a peace agreement with the transitional government or to reach a common ground with the groups that support the army in its war against the paramilitary forces.

(ST)