African Union- IGAD inititaive should not reward Sudanese islamists

Yasir Arman*
FFC leadership member 
SPLM-N Revolutionary Democratic Current leader

We recognize the importance of IGAD and the African Union as organizations concerned about Sudan’s current situation. They have made a historical contribution to the effort of bringing peace to Sudan. Moreover, what is happening in Sudan will directly impact them. The two organizations have obligations towards their membership, and their resolutions are being taken more seriously in the United Nations Security Council, given the sharp divisions within the Security Council nowadays.

We should also view the engagement of IGAD and the African Union from the important angle and the broader perspective of restoring the African face of Sudan, which should be dealt with seriously, given the multiple identities of Sudan and the failure of the national movement to recognize this fact since the founding of the modern state in Sudan.

There are contacts between Sudanese stakeholders and IGAD and the African Union to hold a dialogue at the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa on the 25th of August, 2023. However, there is not sufficient preparation to ensure the participation of the forces of change and the forces of the December Revolution due to the circumstances of the war and other factors.

There is a trend that is calling and working to ensure the participation of the National Congress Islamists and the anti-democratic transition forces in this dialogue. This will only repeat the failed meeting convened at the Salam Rotana Hotel in Khartoum that the forces of change boycotted. Additionally, it will reward the National Congress, the Islamists, and their allies for their war in Sudan at the same time when they are agitating against IGAD and the African Union, and after decades of active involvement in destabilizing IGAD and African countries. Their involvement in the dialogue would not lead to stability in Sudan or the region and it would be a victory for those who staged the war. They have worked to undermine the transitional period and they pushed for the 25th October coup. After its failure, they waged the current war. It may be worth mentioning that the former NCP Foreign Ministers, Dirdiri Mohamed Ahmed, and Ibrahim Ghandour, and others, are working to establish contacts regionally and internationally to secure a seat for the former regime in this dialogue despite national, regional, and international resolutions against them.

The IGAD and African Union initiative is a very important initiative that Sudan needs, and it has been welcomed and supported by the FFC and other forces of change. That is why political and civil society leaders visited the IGAD countries and the African Union headquarters as a priority. Those in charge of this important initiative need to secure sufficient preparation and they should not reward the NCP and the Islamists of the former regime for their war. Saying this, we are not against the Islamists per se. We would like to see those who are for democratic civilian transition and are against war, such as the PCP led by Dr Ali Al Haj, be there.

Lastly, for civilians to effectively shape the future of Sudan, the IGAD and African Union initiative needs to distinguish between the civilians who are for freedom, peace, justice, stability, and change and those who are adamantly working to prolong the war and destabilize Sudan and the region. We need a process that will not undermine the December Revolution, the main objective of the NCP, and that will address the root causes of Sudan’s historical problems, especially issues of equal citizenship without discrimination, unity in diversity, sustainable peace, development, and democracy, as well as building a national army that belongs to Sudan and not to any political party. We need a process that builds a durable solution rather than rewarding those who are working towards the instability of Sudan and beyond.