The United States (US), the United Kingdom (UK), and Norway welcomed statements by Sudanese military and civilian actors affirming their commitment to a democratic transition.
Collectively known as the Sudan Troika, the three countries noted in a joint statement that the commitment toward democracy expressed by different groups is important, as Sudan had strayed away from the path of democracy. Noting that Sudan is facing an economic, humanitarian, and political crisis, the Troika said “only a civilian-led government [and] a realistic timetable for elections” can put the country on the path to recovery.
“Yet no government will be credible unless it is grounded in an inclusive political agreement,” the statement added. The Troika called on both sides to “move quickly” to reach a sustainable agreement while at the same time “avoiding artificial deadlines.”
Continuing my round of discussions with Sudanese stakeholders involved in efforts to build consensus towards a political solution. Positive meetings today with El Hadi Idriss, Gibril Ibrahim and Mudawi Ibrahim. Hope that these efforts will align towards a common solution. pic.twitter.com/uTdLtnad7C
— Volker Perthes (@volkerperthes) August 3, 2022
“It is vital that upon agreement amongst civilian parties to form a transitional government, the military fulfils its stated commitment to withdraw from the political scene,” they underscored.
Furthermore, the trio urged the military to consult with civilian groups about its future in the country “in order to ensure a sustainable transition.” “The Troika continues to encourage intra-Sudanese talks to find a political solution, taking advantage of the resources available through the tripartite UNITAMS-AU-IGAD mechanism,” it added.
The Troika was referring to talks facilitated by the United Nations Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan (UNITAMS), the African Union (AU), and the Intergovernmental Authority of Development (IGAD) since the civilian government was ousted in a military coup in October last year.
The UN estimates that the number of people facing acute hunger in Sudan will likely goes to 18 million by September 2022. The looming hunger crisis in the country is largely due to the combined effects of conflict, economic crisis, and poor harvests. https://t.co/I3M8XxCm37
— َّسِـمًبًآيوٌ (@simpayo) August 2, 2022
UN Special Representative for Sudan Volker Perthes said he expects“positive results” after talking with parties from both groups, indicating that civilian and military groups are willing to make compromises to put Sudan back on the road to democracy.
Moreover, the Troika’s statement came almost a month after Sudanese military chief Gen. Abdel Fattah El Burhan announced the army’s withdrawal from peace negotiations to allow political and other groups to continue the dialogue, paving the way for a civilian government. Burhan said the armed forces would support the outcomes of the UNITAMS-AU-IGAD talks and not stand in the way of democratic transition.
In October 2021, Sudan’s military ousted its civilian-led transition government in Khartoum in a coup. Gen. Burhan dissolved the government and declared a state of emergency after arresting Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok. The army chief said the coup’s purpose was to ensure Sudan’s stability, which was jeopardised due to infighting between the military and civilian parties. He also vowed to share power with the civilian leadership, but his promise has not yet materialised.
NEW: @USAID is providing more than $88M in additional humanitarian assistance for the people of Sudan. We are committed to supporting the Sudanese people, including by helping address rising instability and food insecurity. https://t.co/LXB1qMZfwa
— Samantha Power (@PowerUSAID) August 3, 2022
However, since the coup, violent clashes between anti-military protesters and security forces have taken place on a regular basis; so far, over 60 people have died protesting the coup.
Sudan’s humanitarian crisis has also worsened following the coup. The World Food Programme (WFP) stated in March that over 18 million Sudanese could face acute hunger by the end of the year, the highest humanitarian caseload in Sudan in a decade. The WFP attributed the deteriorating humanitarian situation to a combination of factors, including the military coup, the Russia-Ukraine war, and climate change-induced disasters.
In this respect, the US Agency for International Development (USAID) announced on Tuesday the provision of $88 million in additional humanitarian aid for the people of Sudan, “who continue to experience the devastating effects of violence, food insecurity, and climatic shocks, including severe flooding.”