Divergence of Positions Among Sudanese Parties Regarding the Quartet's Plan to End the War

SadaNews - The positions of political and civil forces in Sudan have diverged regarding a plan proposed by the Quartet group (the United States, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and the UAE) to end the war in the country. While some factions viewed it as an opportunity to resolve the crisis, others considered it a form of guardianship over the country, whereas the Sudanese government presented demands for its acceptance.

In June, Washington launched new efforts to stop the war in Sudan, which has been ongoing for about 29 months, by reviving the "Quartet Group" that was formed to support civilian transition following the ousting of former President Omar al-Bashir in April 2019. Britain was absent from the group and was replaced by Egypt.

A meeting was scheduled to be held at the U.S. State Department for the foreign ministers of the four countries at the end of July to present a vision for solving the Sudanese crisis; however, the meeting was suspended after leaked information indicated a divergence in the positions of some members of the group.

Government Demands

A joint statement issued by the four countries last Friday stated that "at the invitation of Washington, the foreign ministers of those countries held intensive consultations regarding the conflict in Sudan," calling for:

A humanitarian ceasefire for an initial period of three months to allow the rapid delivery of humanitarian aid throughout Sudan, leading immediately to a permanent ceasefire.

The launch of a comprehensive and transparent transitional process that concludes within nine months to meet the aspirations of the Sudanese people for a smooth establishment of an independent civil government enjoying broad legitimacy and accountability, which is vital for Sudan's stability and the preservation of state institutions.

The future of governance in Sudan is a decision that belongs solely to the Sudanese people, made through a comprehensive and transparent transitional process that does not fall under the control of any party to the conflict.

For its part, the Sudanese government presented a package of demands for accepting regional and international efforts to end the conflict, which included respecting the sovereignty of the state and the legitimacy of existing institutions.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated in a statement that "the Sudanese government supports any regional and international effort that helps it end the war, but it does not accept any interventions that do not respect the sovereignty of the state and its legitimate institutions and the right to defend the people and the land, and it rejects being equated with the Rapid Support Forces.

The Ministry indicated that achieving peace is considered the exclusive responsibility of the Sudanese people, who determine how they are governed through the national consensus sought by the government of Prime Minister Kamel Idris.

It emphasized that engaging in internal issues is a sovereign right granted to the Sudanese government according to the interests of the Sudanese people without guardianship from any party or alliance.

Welcoming and Supporting

In contrast, the unrecognized "Hamidti Government" announced in the areas controlled by the Rapid Support Forces and their allies welcomed the statement of the Quartet international group, stating in a statement yesterday, Sunday, "We affirm our steadfast position and full welcome to the efforts being made to end the war in Sudan through a comprehensive peaceful process that leads to stopping the war and building the state and its institutions, by addressing the root causes of the historical crisis that have led to repeated wars in the country."

Regarding political forces, the Democratic Civil Alliance of the "Sumud" revolutionary forces, headed by Abdullah Hamdok, announced its full support for the action plan proposed by the Quartet group regarding the Sudanese crisis, representing a real opportunity to end the war.

The alliance described in a statement the "Quartet" vision as a clear roadmap for ending the conflict, asserting that its success could put an end to the war and lead Sudan toward lasting and just peace, ensuring the security and stability of the country.

The President of the Umma Party, Mubarak al-Fadl, characterized the Quartet's plan as "a responsible and balanced position that reflects the awareness of the international and regional community of the scale of the humanitarian disaster that the Sudanese people are experiencing, and confirms the seriousness of the continuation of the war on the unity of Sudan and its stability, as well as on the security of the entire region."

Al-Fadl emphasized that the future of governance in Sudan must be civil and democratic through a comprehensive transitional process that is not dominated by the "warring parties," leading within a specified period to a civil government with broad legitimacy, expressing his support for dismantling the influence of the "extremist groups" that contributed to destabilizing the country and the region, as he described.

Rejection and Condemnation

As for the national and Islamic forces supporting the army, they rejected the Quartet group's plan, accusing it of lack of neutrality and seeking to undermine the internal situation and impose a new political engineering to support some political forces while excluding others.

The Secretary-General of the National Forces Coordination, Mohamed Sid Ahmed Sar al-Khatem "Al-Jakoumi," stated that what was mentioned in the "Quartet" statement is a clear and unacceptable bias, attempting to impose international guardianship on Sudan in total disregard for the inherent right of the Sudanese people to self-determination without any external interference or influence.

"Al-Jakoumi" said that the just solution to the conflict in Sudan will not come from external statements or isolated meetings but through Sudanese-Sudanese dialogue and support for the roadmap approved by the Sudanese government and the national and community forces toward democratic transition.

For its part, the Broad Islamist Current Alliance led by Ali Karti expressed its astonishment at the language of the Quartet group’s statement, which drips with arrogance and blatant interference in Sudan's internal affairs and attempts to impose external solutions.

It added that some members of the group "are morally unqualified to speak about security and peace in Sudan after their involvement in providing weaponry, money, and mercenaries to the Rapid Support Forces."

The current confirmed its rejection of the attempt to equate the Sudanese army with the Rapid Support Forces, describing the accusation of specific parties - referring to the Islamic Movement and the forces associated with it - of fueling the conflict as a desperate attempt to undermine the unity of the Sudanese people.

For its part, the Popular Congress Party stated in a statement that it rejects the Quartet's statement, particularly the exclusion of some forces that support the army to maintain the security of citizens and their isolation from participating in political life.

The head of the National Congress Party, Ahmed Haroun, believes that "the parties that ignited the war or contributed to its outbreak" are not qualified to undertake the task of extinguishing its flames, doubting the intentions of some international parties leading the settlement efforts.

Haroun stated in a statement that the Sudanese people are not incapable of having their future determined by other countries, and that equating the national army with the Rapid Support Forces and re-producing the "Forces of Freedom and Change" alliance under any new name is an insult to the sacrifices of the Sudanese people.

Source: Al Jazeera