Sudan parties in fresh plan for a new government

A coalition of Sudanese opposition parties, armed movements, civil administration leaders and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) announced on Friday they will communicate formation of a transitional civilian government.

On the same day, they will also announce plans to come up with a new political charter to pave the way for a parallel government allegedly in RSF-controlled areas.

The RSF legal advisor Ezzaden Elsafi said the coalition’s preparatory committee had requested additional time to hold further consultations before finalising the process. “The preparatory committee plan to have a full-fledged programme in three to four days until the 21st of February, where we will have the final session and present to the world the new political charter and the constitution document,” said ElSafi.

.

Keep Reading business

•  Troubled Uchumi's creditors to know fate of their billions
•  Why tourism is Kenya's best bet to accelerate economic growth
•  BAT to pay Sh50 dividend despite 19pc profit dip
•  Appetite for Kenya's 'green gold' spawns new crop of millionaires Premium
•  Policy Statement promises nothing unusual in CS Mbadi's first Budget Premium

ElSafi spoke on Tuesday in Nairobi, where they were expected to sign a peace agreement. Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) leader Abdelaziz al-Hilu said the new “government of peace” will be formed by those who have suffered atrocities led by the current regime under General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan.

Among other key figures at the event were National Umma Party leader Fadlallah Burma Nasir, leaders of the Sudanese Revolutionary Front and RSF deputy commander Abdelrahim Daglo. Over 12 million people have been displaced from their homes and tens of thousands of civilians killed since the war between RSF and Sudanese army started two years ago.

The RSF paramilitary, which is led by Mohamed Hamdan “Hemedti” Dagalo had recently taken over the capital city of Khartoum, but was recaptured early this month by the army.

The leaders said Sudanese people have been deprived of their rights and now want freedom, which can only come with a new government. Among the things they blame the current government of doing are changing the currency, destroying infrastructure, murdering civilians and displacing those living in RSF-controlled regions. Al-Hilu said the Nairobi event was important in the history of Sudan. “We create problems for ourselves, and we can solve them on our own,” he said Al-Hilu.

He added: “But this function today is unique in the sense that in the past, it was hosted by mediators but this is now for Sudanese and we thank the Kenyan government for allowing this process.”

He said they have gone to various places including Addis Ababa, Naivasha and Machakos, but never found a solution to the current problem, but the Nairobi meeting will bring will end the war.  The party boss said the war is between the “centre’’ (government), which controls power and the “periphery”, that blaming the government for marginalisation and exclusion. He said there is need to recognise cultural, religious, and ethnic diversity in power structures, wealth distribution, and education and ensure the rights of all Sudanese are guaranteed and it’s only the new government that will ensure that.

He said from 1956, there have been barriers built to divide people but when they build a new state, they will seek to brake those barriers.

Al-Hilu said they will draft a new constitution and a new social contract, which will answer the perennial question of how Sudan is governed and not who governs so that whoever comes in is a servant leader and whoever has no vision is not allowed to rule. He also asked friends of Sudan to provide humanitarian aid.

Bassmala Elbushary, organising secretary of Marginal Youth Congregation based in UK said there is need for new government.

Elbushary said 70 per cent of the Sudanese population, live in areas controlled by RSF. “However, the Sudan Armed Forces continue to abandon and persecute the people in these areas. They are deliberately withholding vital resources such as healthcare, education and humanitarian assistance has intensified suffering,” she added.