Tagadum, SPLM-N forge committee ahead of Hamdok-Hilu talks
February 24, 2024 (NAIROBI) – On Saturday, Nur El-Din Babiker, a leading member of the Coordination of Civil Democratic Forces “Tagadum” chaired by former Prime Minister Abdallah Hamdok announced the formation of a joint committee with the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N), led by Abdel Aziz Al-Hilu.
This committee has to agree on a common ground between Tagadum and the SPLA-N before the meeting between the leadership of the two parties in the coming days.
In statements to Sudan Tribune, Babiker confirmed the possibility of bridging the gap between Tagadum and the SPLM-N, despite the movement’s previously expressed reservations.
He further emphasized that the current situation requires all parties to be responsible and make concessions to prevent Sudan’s collapse.
Since January, the Alliance of Civil Forces to Stop the War has invited various Sudanese groups to hold meetings, including the SPLM-N, the Sudanese Communist Party, the Baath Party, and the Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM) led by Abdel Wahid Nour. These efforts aim to mobilize political support for ending the ongoing war between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces.
The SPLM welcomed the proposed meeting for unifying anti-war forces. However, they advocated for forming a joint committee to address other crucial issues before pursuing joint action. They suggested discussions on national identity and voluntary unity, the state-religion relationship, democratic transformation, the government system, economic challenges, historical accountability, and security arrangements.
Babiker who is also the Sudanese Congress Party Spokesman outlined a roadmap for further communication with all political and social entities in Sudan, including the Sudan Liberation Movement (led by Minni Minawi) and the Justice and Equality Movement (led by Gibril Ibrahim). However, communication with Minawi and Jibril will be conditional upon their shifting from supporting the war to rejecting it, as the Taqadum coalition’s position firmly opposes the war and seeks its cessation.
He further stated, “If any political forces or armed movements currently supporting the war are willing to join and denounce it, they are welcome in the Tagadum Alliance.”
The anti-war official acknowledged the unsuccessful attempt to organize a meeting with the Communist Party but emphasized ongoing efforts to hold separate meetings by Tagadum components, considering the party’s reservations towards alliances.
He underscored that the Communist and Baath Parties are not required to be part of the Tagadum Alliance’s leadership or structure. However, he did not rule out future coordination with them regarding positions on rejecting the war, constitution-making, political negotiations, and other future issues in Sudan.
Finally, Babiker stated that Tagadum held intensive meetings with African leaders and international officials during the recent African Union summit in Addis Ababa to call for more pressure on the Sudanese belligerents to end the war and provide humanitarian assistance.
(ST)