Facilitation panel proposes to launch direct discussions on Sudan’s transition soon
November 3, 2022 (KHARTOUM) – The tripartite facilitation mechanism proposed to launch direct discussions on the transitional constitution in the middle of November, the Sudanese Congress Party (SCoP) spokesman told Sudan Tribune.
“The Trilateral Mechanism proposed to launch formal talks between Forces for Freedom and Change (FFC), the military component and the signatories of the Juba Peace Agreement on November 15 in order to reach common grounds to end the protracted political crisis,” SCoP Spokesman Noureddine Babikir told Sudan Tribune on Friday.
Babikir further said that the FFC coalition had reservations about the proposal, as the facilitation committee set a date for the talks before agreeing on the agenda for the proposed meeting.
He expected that the coalition holds a meeting with the tripartite panel on Saturday or Sunday to discuss the position of the military component on the draft constitution of the Sudanese Bar Association.
Identical sources told Sudan Tribune that the head of the military component Gen Abdel Fattah al-Burhan handed over observations on the SBA draft constitution.
These observations include reducing the members of the legislative council to 150 instead of 300, cancellation of the collegial presidency, and reviewing the decisions taken after October 25, 2021, rather than abolishing it.
Babikir underscored that the first phase of the talks would be limited to the FFC, military component and peace signatories.
Other political forces will join the consultations in the second phase including the Popular Congress Party, the Democratic Unionist Party of Mohamed Osman al-Mirghani among others as they would participate in the drafting of the permanent constitution and electoral law.
He denied reports about an agreement about judicial immunity for the military component, adding that the ongoing consultations are related to the role of the military institution in the transitional period.
“The SBA’s constitutional proposals endorsed transitional justice in war zones and accountability for those involved in the crimes against civilians.”
(ST)