Sudan’s FFC consult with political forces over framework agreement

November 18, 2022 (KHARTOUM) – The Forces for Freedom and Change (FFC) held a consultation meeting with several political forces aiming to achieve an accord within the civilian forces about a deal stroke with the military component.

The FFC groups and the military leaders agreed on a two-stage roadmap to restore the civilian transition in Sudan based on a draft constitution by the Sudanese Bar Association (SBA).

In line with this understanding, the FFC and the military vowed to sign a framework agreement within 10 days to be followed by a detailed pact to establish a fully civilian transitional government. This second phase requires the involvement of more political and civil society forces.

To this end, FFC leaders held a meeting on Wednesday with the head of the National Consensus Forces (NCF) Liaison Committee Minni Minnawi to discuss their position on the future transitional constitution and the government.

On Friday, the FFC met with the Sudanese Revolutionary Front (RSF) headed by Hadi Idris, Popular Congress Party, Democratic Unionist Party al-Hassan faction and the Ansar al-Suna group.

Sources close to the meeting said that some participants proposed changing the name of the “lawyers’ document” to “national document”. Also, they discussed the review of the Juba Peace Agreement (JPA).

However, the meeting failed to agree on the issue of the peace agreement as the SRF refuse to amend the JPA like the NCF groups.

“The Revolutionary Front sticks on its position rejecting to review the Juba agreement,” further stressed the sources.

The understandings reached between the military and the FFC provide that the inclusive process would discuss four sticky issues: justice and accountability, security reform, the Juba peace agreement and dismantlement of the al-Bashir regime.

In statements on November 17, Minnawi spoke about “a glimmer of hope” to strike a deal with the FFC.

He asserted that it “was impossible to accept” the SBA’s draft constitution and relinquish their proposals which call to keep intact the 2019 constitution and Juba peace agreement.

So, it is crucial for the parties to merge the two documents and this can be done through a joint committee, a national meeting or a framework agreement to be agreed upon by the parties, Minnawi added.

The Trilateral Mechanism is expected to call for a meeting with the political components in the coming days, Sudan Tribune has learnt.

(ST)