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Asharq Al-Awsat
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Asharq Al-Awsat
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.
Asharq Al-Awsat
16-04-2025
- Politics
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Hamdok Calls for UN-African Union Meeting with Sudanese Warring Parties to Secure Ceasefire
Sudanese former Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok has called for an urgent joint meeting between the UN Security Council, the African Union Peace and Security Council, the Sudanese army, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), allied groups, and key civil actors, in a bid to reach an unconditional ceasefire and humanitarian truce in his country's war. In a public address marking the second anniversary of the devastating war between the military and RSF, Hamdok proposed an inclusive summit attended by army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, RSF leader Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, leaders of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) and the Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM), and representatives of civilian forces. Hamdok's initiative aims to secure a permanent ceasefire, reach a comprehensive peace agreement, and establish broad consensus on a transitional constitutional framework that revives Sudan's path toward civilian democratic governance, rooted in the spirit of the December 2018 revolution. He urged the formation of a fully empowered transitional civilian authority to oversee post-war recovery, reconstruction, and the organization of national elections. He also emphasized the need to begin confidence-building measures, including halting hostile media campaigns and releasing all prisoners and detainees. Under his 'Sudan Peace Appeal,' Hamdok also called for an international donor conference to bridge the humanitarian funding gap and support a Sudanese-led peace process that addresses the root causes of the conflict. He proposed a three-track approach: humanitarian aid and civilian protection, a ceasefire with permanent security arrangements based on the Jeddah Agreement, and a political dialogue to lay the groundwork for lasting peace. Moreover, Hamdok urged regional and international stakeholders to refrain from actions that prolong the conflict and to impose a comprehensive arms embargo on all parties. He also proposed forming a Sudanese-led expert task force to assess the war's destruction and develop a national reconstruction and recovery plan. The former prime minister warned that continued fighting could turn Sudan into a hub for extremist and terrorist groups. He condemned growing hate speech and atrocities, including massacres and horrific violence, which he said risk transforming the country into a breeding ground for terrorism. Meanwhile, the army marked the start of the third year of war by announcing military gains against RSF positions in western and southern Omdurman, seizing weapons and killing dozens of fighters. The army claimed it had cleared several strategic areas and was now targeting remaining RSF pockets in Khartoum State.
The National
15-04-2025
- Politics
- The National
Ending Sudan's war rests with Sudanese alone, says former PM Hamdok
Abdalla Hamdok, former prime minister of Sudan, has called for an end to the country's devastating civil war in a letter released on the second anniversary of the start of the conflict. The fighting between the regular army, led by Gen Abdel Fattah Al Burhan, and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), headed by his former deputy Mohamed Dagalo, erupted on April 15, 2023 and has claimed tens of thousands of lives, displaced 13 million people and triggered the world's worst humanitarian crisis. "The war was ignited by Sudanese hands, and the responsibility for ending it immediately rests with the Sudanese alone," Mr Hamdok said in his letter. "It is truly regrettable that, despite all the death, destruction, and devastation that has befallen the country and its people, the sound of the gun remains the loudest, and the warring parties continue to threaten us with more killing and destruction," he said. Mr Hamdok was installed as prime minister in a civilian-led transitional government in August 2019, months after the military removed long-time dictator Omar Al Bashir amid widespread protests against his rule. His government was toppled by the military and the RSF in October 2021. He now leads the Civil Democratic Alliance for Revolutionary Forces, which was formed earlier this year and comprises political parties, professional groups and unions, and civil activist groups. Mr Hamdok warned in his letter that recent ISIS-affiliated violence in Sudan would return the country to the same situation that placed it on the list of state sponsors of terrorism under the former regime, and threatened to transform it into a "fertile ground for extremist and international terrorist groups". He said that the former regime's approach of destabilising neighbouring countries and engaging in confrontation with the international community, which led to the Sudan being isolated for 30 years, was again looming. "The recent military threats against Chad, South Sudan, Kenya and regional countries, as well as the lawsuit filed against the UAE at the International Court of Justice, are dangerous indicators of this trend," he said. He expressed "deep appreciation" to all countries and regional and international organisations that have supported Sudanese civilians during the war. He called on the warring parties to accept the Sudan Peace Appeal initiative, which was launched by the alliance during the holy month of Ramadan to try to end the war. The initiative calls for a joint meeting of the UN Security Council and the African Union Peace and Security Council, attended by the leaders of the army, the Rapid Support Forces and other Sudanese groups. The goal of the process is to reach a permanent ceasefire, a comprehensive peace agreement and the formation of a transitional civilian authority with full powers to address the effects of the war, rebuild Sudan and lead the country to elections.
Middle East Eye
15-04-2025
- Politics
- Middle East Eye
Sudan's war is not just 'another African conflict'. When will the world step in?
Two years have passed since the outbreak of Sudan's devastating war, ushering in a third year of fear, loss, tears, displacement and resilience against all odds. Since the outbreak of war between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), Sudanese civilians have faced egregious human rights violations. Beyond the battlefield, their suffering extends to systemic deprivation and exclusion, both within Sudan and in exile. The international community's apathy has been manifested in policies that restrict their movement, deny them protection and limit humanitarian aid, essentially reducing civilians to 'persona non grata'. The Sudan crisis remains underreported by global media, leaving its horrors - including countless civilian deaths, abductions, torture, enforced disappearances and massive destruction - largely invisible to the world. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters Systemic issues such as blackouts, food shortages, internet disruptions and areas covered in landmines have further compounded civilian suffering, while the devastated healthcare system struggles to cope with outbreaks of cholera, dengue fever and malaria. Sudan has been described as the world's largest humanitarian crisis, but calls by aid groups for urgent assistance have been met with a limited global response. Sudan's plight has been sidelined, reinforcing the perception of selective empathy from the international community. Sudan's marginalisation was apparent even before the war, as seen in its prolonged designation by the US as a state sponsor of terrorism. Washington ended the designation in 2020 after Sudan agreed to pay a $335m settlement to terrorism victims. The delay in removing sanctions stifled Sudan's economic recovery, with former Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok saying it hindered Sudan's integration into the global economy and aggravated the country's vulnerabilities: 'It is indeed a story of neglect.' Global indifference Analysts have pointed out how international reluctance to support the Sudanese people - in particular, delays in debt relief and economic support - contributed to the failure of the civilian-led transition, setting the stage for subsequent political instability and the ongoing war. Within days of the war erupting in Sudan in April 2023, diplomatic missions rushed to evacuate their citizens. The swift and highly coordinated response stood in stark contrast to the indifference shown towards Sudanese civilians left behind. Some countries, like the UK, even declined to assist bi-national Sudanese during the evacuation asking them to find their own way to the airbase in Wadi Sayidna in North Omdurman. Hamdok noted that this same urgency could have been applied to secure a lasting ceasefire, but no such commitment materialised. Shortly after the war broke out, the world watched as US diplomats were airlifted from their embassy in Khartoum, in a special operation that was meticulously documented and celebrated as a symbol of precision and triumph. In the absence of sustained leadership from key global powers, regional actors with conflicting interests have gained influence in Sudan, perpetuating instability But global media attention quickly dissipated. Cameras zoomed out. The US embassy in Sudan destroyed Sudanese passports being held for visa processing, effectively stranding applicants in a conflict zone. The justification that this was 'standard operating procedure' did little to mitigate the harm caused. Other western embassies evacuated their diplomats while leaving the passports of Sudanese visa applicants inside their premises. None have provided solutions, leaving visa applicants stranded and causing family separations, as passport-holding relatives have been forced to flee Sudan. International responses to Sudanese refugees and asylum seekers further underscore the disparity in humanitarian treatment. In Canada, a family reunification programme launched in February 2024 imposed severe requirements on Sudanese Canadians seeking to bring their relatives to safety, including exorbitant costs that made the process unattainable for many. Some were kept waiting so long that loved ones passed away. The US also exacerbated Sudanese suffering by suspending its refugee resettlement programme this past January - one of President Donald Trump's first moves upon taking office. This decision left thousands of Sudanese asylum seekers in limbo, and coincided with the threat of an expanded travel ban targeting more than 40 countries, including Sudan. 'A war of choice' The EU and US have been criticised for failing Sudan, while extending more assistance to refugees from Ukraine. Last October, the EU focused on tightening migration controls, as Italy processed migrants offshore in Albania. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the EU could 'draw lessons' from that policy. Sudanese refugees and asylum seekers who do cross borders are met with resentment by some host communities, while facing delays and complications at UN refugee offices. Ironically, before Sudan's current crisis, it had one of Africa's highest refugee populations. Sudan's dire humanitarian situation has been exacerbated by the Trump administration's suspension of most foreign aid, which caused the abrupt closure of around 80 percent of Sudan's emergency food distribution centres. The move highlighted the devastating impacts of foreign policy decisions that prioritise geopolitical interests over humanitarian imperatives. Sudan crisis: Women and girls must be at the heart of global response Read More » In the absence of sustained leadership from key global powers, regional actors with conflicting interests have gained influence in Sudan, perpetuating instability. But Peter Stano, the EU's external affairs spokesperson, has framed Sudan's crisis as a regional issue, stating: 'It's not our neighbourhood … Sudan is an Islamic or Arab country.' By recognising the leadership of the Arab League and African Union, he effectively withdrew the EU's responsibility, portraying the bloc as non-interventionist while dismissing the Sudanese crisis. Indeed, this war has highlighted the moral contradictions of the international community. Western powers have demonstrated selective empathy, treating Sudan's suffering as a distant and disposable tragedy. As analyst Alex De Waal noted in May 2023: 'This is a war of choice; allowing it to happen was a failure of international diplomacy.' The need for immediate humanitarian and diplomatic intervention is clear. Western states must reassess foreign aid suspensions and ensure equitable refugee polices, while pushing for a comprehensive and lasting ceasefire that centres Sudanese civilians. In addition, the global media must dismantle harmful, stereotypical narratives that frame Sudan's war as merely 'another African conflict'. Sudan's crisis is not just a product of domestic conflict. It reflects global complicity. Only through genuine and consistent engagement, and the rejection of selective empathy, can the world begin to rectify its failures and offer Sudan the solidarity it deserves. The views expressed in this article belong to the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Middle East Eye.
Asharq Al-Awsat
14-04-2025
- Politics
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Sudanese Ex-Minister to Asharq Al-Awsat: We're in Contact with Trump Administration on Ways to End the War
Leading member of Sudan's Sumoud alliance Khalid Omer Yousif revealed that the coalition is in contact with the Donald Trump administration to end the two-year war in Sudan. Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, Yousif, a former minister of cabinet affairs in ex-Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok's government, praised British and European countries that will hold in London on Tuesday a conference to discuss means to end the war in Sudan. The conference, called for by Britain, Germany and France, will be attended by the foreign ministers of 20 countries and also tackle efforts to help the millions of Sudanese people who have been displaced by the conflict. The British organizers have excluded the warring parties from attending the meeting, but a delegation from Sumoud, the country's largest coalition of civilian parties and forces, has been invited. Sumoud is led by Hamdok, who has been on a visit to Britain for a few days now. The London conference is a 'positive step' in uniting international efforts towards Sudan given that its conflict - despite its enormity - has been overshadowed by the wars in Gaza, Lebanon, Syria and Ukraine, Yousif remarked. He confirmed that contacts are ongoing between Sumoud and the warring parties: army commander Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and Rapid Support Forces (RSF) leader Mohammed Hamdan Daglo. Moreover, Yousif said that the United Nations has estimated that Sudan needs USD6 billion to confront its humanitarian needs in 2025, but so far only 4 percent of that amount has been collected. He stated that Sumoud has made several proposals aimed at ending the war, including holding a meeting between the UN Security Council and African Union Peace and Security Council, holding another donor conference, and launching African-sponsored political dialogue. Hamdok has sent these proposals to UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy, Yousif revealed. International division Yousif lamented that the international community appears divided over how to approach Sudan, stressing however that the solution should come from the Sudanese people themselves. 'The responsibility lies primarily with them,' he told Asharq Al-Awsat. He acknowledged, however, that the regional and international division 'surrounding us is complicating the crisis and making it harder for the Sudanese to reach solutions.' 'So, we have communicated with the international community to make solutions easier for us, and not to obstruct them. This is at the heart of our communication with the international community,' he explained. Moreover, he warned that the 'war no longer threatens Sudan alone. But it has become a danger to the security of the region, especially with the presence of terrorist groups in some neighboring countries.' The war has effectively started to impact the security and stability of neighboring countries, and similar conflicts to the ones in Sudan have started to erupt there, he remarked. Sudan is connected to several strategic regions – the Sahel, Sahara, Red Sea and North Africa – so its war not only threatens the Sudanese, but the region and so it is in the interest of the international community to stop it, Yousif urged. US role under Trump On the role the Trump administration can play in resolving the war, the former minister said: 'We hope the administration can develop a clear vision over how to help the Sudanese end the conflict.' He hoped that as the US exerts efforts in ending conflicts across the globe, that it would apply these same efforts in his country. 'Successive administrations have made positive statements towards the Sudanese people and they have worked on reaching negotiated solutions' between them, he noted. Hope despite the destruction Yousif said he remains hopeful that the war can be stopped despite the massive losses in life and destruction in the country. 'We hope the Sudanese people will shun violence and turn to solutions to their differences through dialogue and peaceful means,' he stressed. He revealed that he derives his hope from the growing awareness among the people that peaceful means are the way forward in ending the unrest. He acknowledged, however, that the war has caused deep divisions among the people and is threatening the fragmentation of Sudan. These divisions are 'the greatest threat facing the unity of the country,' he went on to say. Ending the fighting and engaging in serious dialogue between the Sudanese parties is the only way to maintain the country's unity and sovereignty, he added.
