Arman urges international action for cessation of hostilities in Sudan
October 10, 2023 (KHARTOUM) – Yasir Arman, a leading member of the anti-war coalition of civilian forces in Sudan, has called on the international community to pressure the warring parties to agree on a cessation of hostilities, saying it is crucial to change the dynamic of the current war.
In a paper released on Tuesday, Arman presented a comprehensive vision to end the six-month armed conflict between the national army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
Drawing on his experience as the chief negotiator for the SPLM-N for many years, Arman stressed that a cessation of hostilities is essential to creating a conducive atmosphere for peace. He also emphasized the need to enable humanitarian access to millions of Sudanese affected by the war across the country.
“Both national, regional, and international actors who are against the war need to concentrate maximum attention on a long humanitarian cessation of hostilities,” Arman wrote.
“This will entail giving priority to issues of humanitarian access and civilian protection, including a no-fly zone and stopping the artillery and all types of bombardment in civilian residential areas by a joint resolution from the African Union, the Arab League, and the UN Security Council.”
Arman added that the African Union and other partners could provide the necessary monitoring and verification forces to ensure that the warring parties respect the truce. He also called on the African Union Peace and Security Council to establish humanitarian corridors and protect civilians.
“Humanitarian assistance and humanity before politics,” Arman emphasized.
United Nations officials have said Sudan has become the world’s fastest-growing displacement crisis since two rival generals plunged the country into war nearly six months ago. Some 5.4 million people are displaced within Sudan or in neighbouring countries as refugees.
Arman also stressed the need to unify the political and civil society forces in a broad pro-democracy and anti-war front. This coalition should gather the December Revolution forces, the groups that have accepted the need for change, and the wider anti-war forces inside and outside of Sudan, he said.
“This front is necessary for a successful political process that may include other forces from civilians who do not fit in the civilian democratic front, but they are necessary for the political process,” Arman wrote.
The anti-war forces say that the partisans of the former Islamist regime are not welcome in this process, accusing them of igniting the war.
With regard to the role of the regional and international community, Arman pointed out the presence of six “competing” initiatives and proposed creating a mechanism to coordinate them.
“This requires a mechanism that solicits the goodwill of the different initiatives, especially the involvement of the Africans as it will get a blessing in the UN Security Council,” Arman said, referring to the obstruction at this level practised by Russia and China against any initiative outside the African Union.
(ST)