SRF reaffirms rejection of including former regime allies in Sudan’s dialogue process
June 21, 2022 (KHARTOUM) – The Sudanese Revolutionary Front (SRF) spokesman disclosed their rejection of the inclusion of political groups that were allied to the former regime in the first phase of the dialogue.
Last March, the SRF launched an initiative to end the political crisis in the country through a two-phase process. The first involves the parties to the constitutional declaration and peace signatory groups to discuss the formation of the government, while the second includes all the Sudanese parties except the banned NCP the permanent constitution and elections.
The SRF position on this matter coincides with the position of the FFC coalition, which boycotted the opening session of the intra-Sudanese process on June 8 before its suspension 24 hours later.
“We adhere to two-phase dialogue and refuse to involve forces that are not signatories to the Declaration of Forces for Freedom and Change in the first phase,” Osama Saeed told the Sudan Tribune.
He pointed out that the SRF groups are at odds with the military component on this matter. Earlier this month the two sides agreed to continue discussions in this respect, he added.
The FFC say the inclusion of these groups at the first stage of the dialogue as the military component wants means the political process will serve as a gateway for the coup leaders to create a political majority that legitimizes the coup and enable remain in power.
Osama Saeed told the Sudan Tribune that they had made it clear to the facilitation panel they would withdraw from the political process and join the FFC if they intend to hold the process with the supporters of the former regime.
“We informed the facilitators of our decision and then we made it clear at the opening meeting that we would suspend our participation in the process after the inclusion of the allies of the former regime,” he further added.
The SRF gathers the SPLM-N led by Malik Agar, the SLM Transitional Council led by Hadi Idriss and the GSLF of al-Tahir Hajar and the Beja Congress led by Osama Saeed.
The military component and the former rebel groups mainly the SLM of Minni Minnawi and JEM of Gibril Ibrahim are supportive of the inclusion of the allies of the former regime.
After the suspension of the trilateral mechanism facilitated process on June 9, the African Union representative in Khartoum slammed direct meetings between the military component and the FFC coalition brokered by the US and Saudi Arabia.
Mohamed Belaiche obviously was angered by their exclusion from the meetings while brokers involved UNITAMS head.
(ST)