US, allies push civilian path for Sudan
Washington, June 8
The United States and a coalition of Western, African and international organisations on Monday backed the launch of a Sudanese-led political dialogue within weeks, arguing that only a civilian transition can end Sudan's devastating civil war and restore stability to the country.
In a joint statement issued after the consultations in Addis Ababa, the United States, Britain, France, Germany, Italy, the African Union (AU), the European Union (EU), the United Nations (UN) and other partners said they remained united in their belief that "there can be no military solution to this crisis" and called for an inclusive political process reflecting "the aspirations of the Sudanese people".
The statement followed consultations held by the Quintet - the AU, Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), League of Arab States, EU and UN - with Sudanese political stakeholders from June 3-5 in Ethiopia's capital.
The countries and organisations reaffirmed their commitment to "a peaceful, democratic, and stable future" for Sudan and to preserving the country's "sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity".
They also voiced alarm over the worsening humanitarian situation.
"We express deep concern over the devastating humanitarian consequences of the ongoing conflict, where millions face displacement, acute food insecurity, and limited access to basic services, while attacks on civilians and infrastructure persist," the statement said.
The signatories stressed that "the protection of civilians must remain central" and reiterated "the urgent need for a humanitarian truce, leading to a permanent ceasefire".
The joint statement welcomed outcomes from the Berlin Conference on Sudan held on April 15, including the adoption of the "Berlin Principles for Sudan" and a civilian stakeholders' declaration calling for an end to the war and the launch of a Sudanese-owned political process.
According to the statement, those initiatives helped strengthen international coordination and support for "a civilian-led path towards a durable peaceful settlement".
The group said advancing a civilian track must remain central to efforts to end the conflict and establish a democratic transition.
It supported "a swift and time-bound civilian track that leads to a civilian-led transition" and said progress would be assessed against agreed benchmarks.
The statement also warned that "appropriate measures will be considered by the international community against those who seek to undermine the civilian transition process".
The international partners endorsed plans by the Quintet to begin "in the coming few weeks" a comprehensive civilian-led dialogue process involving a broad spectrum of Sudanese political and civil actors.
The proposed dialogue would include representatives of civil society, women's groups, youth organisations and stakeholders reflecting Sudan's geographic and social diversity. The process, the statement said, should be transparent, credible and free from coercion.
The signatories said they hoped the dialogue could be concluded "ideally within six months" and lead to "a clear pathway toward a transition process to an independent civilian-led government, grounded in legitimacy, accountability, and respect for human rights".
They described the establishment of such a government as "indispensable to ensuring a durable end to the conflict".
— IANS
Reader Comments
As an Indian who follows global affairs, I appreciate the Quintet's approach of including the African Union and Arab League. India has always supported non-interference and civilian governance. But the proposed six-month timeline seems overly optimistic given the complexity of Sudan's tribal and political dynamics. The situation reminds me of how important local ownership is in conflict resolution.
The Berlin Principles sound promising, but I'm skeptical about Western-led initiatives in Africa. We've seen similar pledges in Libya and Afghanistan that didn't end well. The humanitarian crisis is real though - millions displaced and facing acute food insecurity. The international community needs to prioritize aid access while pushing for a genuine ceasefire.
India should learn from this - our own approach to conflict resolution in places like J&K could benefit from civilian-led dialogue processes. The emphasis on women's groups and youth organizations is particularly noteworthy. However, the threat of "appropriate measures" against those who undermine the transition sounds like a veiled warning to the RSF and SAF. Let's hope it doesn't escalate tensions.
The international community's focus on civilian transition is commendable, but let's not forget that Sudan's current conflict originated from a military coup that the US and allies initially condemned but failed to prevent. Words need to be backed by concrete action. The humanitarian situation is dire - I hope the truce and ceasefire actually materialize this time. 🕊️
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