Non-signatories dismiss statements about deal to join Sudan’s political process
February 11, 2023 (KHARTOUM) – A spokesman for the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) said on Saturday that disagreement continues between the signatories to the framework agreement and the non-signatory groups over who can be included in the ongoing process.
Earlier on Saturday, the military-led Sovereignty Council announced that an agreement has been reached between the signatories and no-signatories to the framework agreement to sign a political declaration, paving the way for the latter to join the ongoing political process.
The deal has been struck between military component leaders, the political forces -parties to the framework agreement- and three recalcitrant leaders including JEM leader Gibril Ibrahim, Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) deputy chairman Gaffar al-Mirghani and the head of the Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM) Minni Minnawi.
Late on Saturday, JEM Spokesman dismissed the statement issued by the Sovereign Council saying that the dispute over who could sign the political agreement has not been resolved.
He stressed the need to include parties that believe in democratic transition in the ongoing political process.
He further rejected the “measurement instruments” set by the Forces for Freedom and Change (FFC) to classify the political forces into “the forces of the revolution and the forces of transition.”
On December 5, 2022, the military leaders and civil forces signed the Political Framework Agreement aiming to end the 15-month political crisis. However, two signatories of the Juba Peace Agreement that backed the military coup opposed the deal and formed a coalition including some of the former regime forces.
To please the military leaders who call for inclusivity, the pro-democracy leaders accepted the participation in the transitional period of some Islamist and traditional groups that were part of the former regime but rejected the coup d’état which interrupted the democratic and economic reforms.
They further said that the former rebel groups, which backed the October 2021 coup, can join them because they are part of the Juba peace agreement.
But JEM and SLM are opposed to the framework agreement because it would end their participation in the new transitional government that should be formed of technocrats.
The two groups formed a coalition ‘Democratic Alliance’ which includes various political groups including a DUP faction backed by the Egyptian government.
FFC confirm meetings
Mohamed Abdel Hakam, a spokesman of the Unionist Alliance, one of the FFC’s main components, confirmed on Saturday night that they held a series of meetings with the JEM DUP and SLM- MM groups during the past few days.
Abdel Hakam added that the meetings would continue until reaching an agreement paving the way for the restoration of a civilian government.
His statement confirms that no agreement has been reached and denied the statement of the Sovereign Council.
“We reiterate our commitment to the terms of the Agreement and its parties. Also, we reaffirm our endeavour to bring in the train of the political process all parties that we have determined ‘in advance’,” he further stressed.
The signatories to the framework agreement signed individually as political forces, but JEM and SLM demanded to sign as a political coalition to bring in their allies.
(ST)