Is Sudan on Course for a Comprehensive Dialogue?
It is difficult to get the Sudanese people to agree on any political question. Continuous debate, unending disputes, and entrenched polarization have long defined the Sudanese political landscape. That has been the case since Sudan gained its independence nearly seven decades ago at the latest.
Accordingly, it is not surprising that the sharp debate continues, in Sudanese outlets and pages, over Dr. Kamal El-Tayeb Idris's appointment as Prime Minister. There is disagreement over the decision, the man himself, and even disagreement itself.
In my view, his appointment is a positive step. It ends the vacuum in the executive, as for the first time in just over three years, Sudan has appointed a Prime Minister on a non-interim basis. He has broad powers and will thus be put to the test as he navigates the many challenges his government will face in these difficult times.
The appointment has placed an independent civilian technocrat in power. This is an important precedent that meets a longstanding demand. Many parties had been calling for such a move and advocating for steps that put the country back on track for a civilian democratic transition after it had been disrupted by the removal of Hamdok's government and the subsequent clashes that escalated and ultimately led to the ongoing current civil war.
That is the view of the African Union, which welcomed the decision, presenting it as a significant development that could help restore Sudan's constitutional order and bolster efforts to develop democratic governance. The Arab League shares this view, lauding what it sees as an important step toward receiving civilian institutions. For his part, the UN Secretary-General said he hoped that this would be followed by broad-based consultations regarding a broadly representative technocratic government, stressing the need to prioritize building national consensus.
In truth, many actions are needed to put Sudan back on the path toward a civilian democratic transition. A gradual approach is needed, given the current state of affairs. The war has imposed priorities that override all other concerns, as it has become the people's greatest burden. Prior to the new Prime Minister's appointment, many had criticized Sudan's military command and the Sovereignty Council for their reluctance to appoint a civilian government with broad executive powers that could restore the machinery of governance, meet citizens' basic needs, and provide basic services.
Once the new government is formed, reconstruction and the provision of basic services will be among its top priorities. The goal is to gradually restore normalcy and facilitate the return of internally displaced persons and refugees. This is not a political government with a partisan agenda. Political rivalries and alliances will not figure into its work. Rather, it is a technocratic government whose main task should be to deliver services as the army focuses on its next mission: taking full control over Kordofan, and then Darfur.
The appointment of the new Prime Minister coincided with the announcement that the Rapid Support Forces had been expelled from their last remaining strongholds in Khartoum State, paving the way for a gradual resumption of government operations from the capital. This has significant symbolic implications.
Dr. Kamal Idris began his tenure by declaring that he would not accept financial allowances or housing provided by the state, promising to disclose his finances. This goodwill gesture is commendable, though one hopes it is not merely a communications strategy. What matters is that the new government prioritizes the fight against corruption, especially at a time when public discourse is rife with allegations of corruption in state institutions and centers of power. This will be a real test for the new Prime Minister, as no government can succeed without addressing this pervasive problem. Sudan cannot move forward if its limited resources continue to be siphoned off by opportunists instead of being used to provide essential services and fund urgent reconstruction efforts. Corruption is always a problem, but in times of war when the nation is in recovery, it is catastrophic.
The question is: Will the new government's focus remain on services, or can it also work on initiating intra-Sudanese dialogue?
The new prime minister's appointment, which has coincided with talk about the roadmap the government had presented to the United Nations at the outset, and then reaffirmed at the Arab League Summit in Baghdad this week, both suggest that we could be heading towards a comprehensive dialogue. The idea has been widely discussed, but concrete steps have yet to materialize. After regaining control over vast territories, most recently the capital, the military command has turned its focus to plans for a campaign on Kordofan and Darfur. According to their own military assessments, the war will end soon.
The door may be open, then, to a transition toward democratic civilian rule. An inclusive dialogue is the first step. This transition will certainly present challenges; they cannot be addressed through wishful thinking or a zero-sum mindset. A successful transition will require a realistic approach that sees every opportunity as a door worth knocking on. The new civilian government is one such opportunity. It must be embraced and not undercut.
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Asharq Al-Awsat
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The Invisible Enemy in the Sudan War
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