Hamdok rejects war, criticises international community’s approach to Sudan crisis
October 20, 2024 (KHARTOUM) – Abdalla Hamdok, former prime minister and leader of the Coordination of Civil Democratic Forces (Tagadum), reiterated the alliance’s rejection of the ongoing war in Sudan and criticised the international community’s engagement with what he termed the “de facto government.”
In an address to the Sudanese people on Sunday, commemorating the anniversary of the 21 October 1964 revolution, Hamdok lamented that the country is experiencing “unprecedented bloodshed and destruction that has lasted for nearly two years in a war that has left us with neither pride nor dignity.”
He acknowledged some response from the international community but stressed that much more could be done to stop the bloodshed.
Hamdok outlined the Tagadum’s renewed stance against the continuation of the war and its proposal for rebuilding Sudan and restoring the democratic path. He emphasized that the complex Sudanese crisis cannot be resolved through a “reductive approach that sees the war as merely a conflict between two generals.”
“Anyone seeking a sustainable solution must look into the roots of the crisis and delve deeper into understanding the reasons that have turned the country into a permanent stage for armed conflict since the dawn of independence in 1956,” he added.
Hamdok asserted that the responsibility for the immediate cessation of hostilities lies with the Sudanese people, as they are most familiar with the real causes of these conflicts. However, this does not negate the expected role of friends and brothers in the regional and international arenas “to exert real pressure on both parties to stop the bloodshed and return to the negotiating table.”
The Tagadum leader stressed the conviction that the war will not be resolved through force and that negotiation is the only path to a solution.
Hamdok criticised the international community for cooperating with the current government, stating, “We remind the regional and international community that the country has remained in a complete constitutional vacuum as there has been no legitimate government in Sudan since the coup of 25 October 2021, and giving legitimacy to the de facto government will never help find a solution to this war.”
Addressing the political forces, he called for the establishment of a civilian front comprising the broadest spectrum of forces that believe in peace and the nation, reject war, and believe in a Sudan of freedom, peace, justice, and civil democratic rule.
Hamdok emphasized that a sustainable solution to the Sudanese crisis can only be achieved by developing a comprehensive plan that addresses the real causes of the war and outlines a future vision for the post-conflict period.
He also stressed the importance of designing a unified political process with multiple tracks operating simultaneously to cease hostilities, address the crisis and the humanitarian situation, facilitate political dialogue, and oversee reconstruction. This process should include a mechanism to monitor violations on the ground.