Tagadum alliance prioritizes peace talks in Sudan, warns of fragmentation
December 3, 2024 (ENTEBBE) – A Sudanese civilian alliance said on Tuesday that ending the war is its top priority and it is willing to negotiate with all sides, including those backing the army, to reach a ceasefire.
Bakry Eljack, a spokesperson for the Coordination of the Democratic and Civil Forces (Tagadum), said the group is ready to hold talks with any faction that prioritizes halting the conflict, which began in April 2023.
“The right way of thinking is not to win the media battle at the expense of the death of victims,” Eljack told reporters. “The Sudanese people should not be held hostage by either side to pressure the international community.”
His comments came as the alliance faces internal challenges, including calls for reform and the formation of a government-in-exile.
Eljack criticized the military led government in Port Sudan for pushing to designate the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) a terrorist organization, calling it an attempt to win a “media battle” rather than focus on peace.
He warned that the conflict, which began as a fight between the army and the RSF, is becoming a proxy war influenced by regional conflicts in the Horn of Africa. He cited recent statements by some regional leaders who have suggested they might intervene in Sudan.
The spokesman was referring to statements attributed to President Isaias Afwerki that Eritrea would intervene alongside the Sudanese army if the war reach the border states between the two countries.
Eljack expressed concern over the RSF’s recent announcement that it would boycott negotiations. He urged both sides to enter talks without preconditions.
“All issues can be discussed in negotiations, but preconditions cannot be set before sitting down to negotiate,” he said.
He further warned against the army and the RSF forming competing governments in the territories they control, saying this could lead to further fragmentation and chaos, including the issuance of separate currencies and the holding of separate school exams.
“This meeting is important and pivotal,” Eljack said, referring to a meeting Tagadum is holding nowadays in Entebbe. “The war is about to reach 600 days of fighting … with a humanitarian catastrophe that is the worst on a human level, threatening 25 million citizens with famine.”
He added, “It is expected that the number of deaths due to famine will reach millions by the end of this year … in addition to the displacement of 11 million people, including three and a half million refugees in neighbouring countries.”