The coup ended a power-sharing agreement between military and civilian leaders established after the April 2019 ousting of President Omar al-Bashir, who had ruled for 30 years.
“After nearly 15 months after the October 25, 2021 coup, getting back on the road to transition would be a big, important step for all Sudanese whether they are civilians or in the military,” said Volker Perthes, United Nations Special Representative for Sudan, recently. UN News.
Desire for peace
The talk marks the second and final phase of the political process that began in December with the signing of the Political Framework Agreement for the two-year transition leading up to the election.
They are being supported by the UN, the African Union (AU) and the East African bloc IGAD, collectively known as the Tripartite Mechanism.
In statement was released after its January 8 launch in Khartoum, United Nations Secretary General António Guterres described the development as “another important step forward for realizing the aspirations of the Sudanese people for democracy, peace and sustainable development.”
Result-oriented discussion
Representatives from civil society, academia, the private sector, youth and women’s rights groups, as well as traditional and religious leaders, also participated in the negotiations.
Mr. Perthes, who also heads the United Nations Integrated Transition Support Mission in Sudan, said five workshops will be held, the first focusing on the roadmap to overthrow the old regime (UNIT).
“I was able to witness quite a few sessions, several meetings and seminars, and Personally, I’m impressed by the level of discussion and sincerity where Sudanese people talk to each other, interact with each other,” he continued. “It’s very results-driven, and that’s very important in this context.”
Priority accountability
Last month, the special envoy informed the United Nations Security Council about the framework agreement, saying it could signal an exit from the uncertainty and insecurity caused by the coup.
Some factions have criticized the deal for ignoring issues such as accountability, but Mr Perthes has denied these claims.
“Accountability is being talked about in the framework agreement, but it should be” spell more” he say.
“There will be a workshop – perhaps one of the five most important – on transitional justice, of course on accountability and how to practice it in difficult circumstances,” he added.
In a better place now
As negotiations progressed, Mr Perthes was asked about next steps, expressing hope for the future.
“I am more optimistic, much more optimistic than me a year ago,” he revealed. “I think there is a real chance of reaching a political solution, which of course means a government has to be formed very, very soon.”
He also urged the people of Sudan not to lose hope. “We are in a better place than we were a year ago and supporting those trying to find a solution. No solution is ideal, but having a solution is better than none.”
