Western diplomats hails lawyers’ proposals for transition in Sudan
September 11, 2022 (KHARTOUM) – European and U.S. embassies to Sudan welcomed the draft transitional constitution prepared by the Sudanese Bar Association (SBA) describing it as “a serious and encouraging initiative”.
Sudanese political groups endorsed a draft constitutional document made by the Sudanese lawyers who handed it over to the tripartite facilitation mechanism. The text calls for a civilian government and evicts the military from the transitional government.
“We commend the SBA initiative’s inclusion of a broad spectrum of Sudanese stakeholders and careful expert technical review, and we are encouraged by the initial signs of support from diverse Sudanese actors since the release of the SBA document,” reads the joint statement.
The diplomatic mission of France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States in Khartoum, however, called to exert more efforts to include more political forces and to bring Sudanese together.
“More work is still needed to ensure any agreement on a transitional arrangement is acceptable to a clear majority of political and social forces. No single actor, group, or coalition should have a monopoly on the political process,” stressed the statement.
Some political groups such as the National Consensus Forces and the coalition of the People of Sudan Initiative still call for the participation of the military component. This position is at odds with the Forces for Freedom and Change (FFC)’s position.
Also, the Sudanese Communist Party rejects any dialogue with the military component.
Until recently, the Resistance Committees backed the rejection of any political engagement with the coup leaders, who killed more than a hundred youth during the anti-coup protests they continue to organize.
However, on September 6, many neighbourhood committees voiced their support for the position of the FFC groups, calling for a political process to bring the military leader to renounce power and accept a fully civilian government.
The western diplomats said that the core principles identified in the SBA document will be critical to achieving a credible and effective system of civilian-led transitional governance.
The international community after the coup paused any economic support to Sudan, saying they would resume these programmes once a credible civilian government was formed.
“As Sudan faces economic security and humanitarian crises and the anniversary of the 25 October 2021 military takeover approaches, we emphasize the need for all Sudanese actors—including Sudan’s military—to constructively engage in a political process to restore a civilian-led transition to democracy,” they said.
Further, the diplomats reiterated their support for the Trilateral Mechanism of the UNITAMS; African Union and IGAD to narrow the gaps between the Sudanese stakeholders and reach an agreement on the transitional constitution and the civilian cabinet.
(ST)