“After almost 15 months following the coup of 25 Oct 2021, returning to the changeover path would be a major, major step forward for everyone Sudanese whether or not they are civilians or in the military, ” said Volker Perthes, the UN Special Representative for Sudan, speaking recently to UN News . Last month, the envoy briefed the UN Security Council on the framework agreement, saying it could signal a way out from the uncertainty and insecurity sparked by the coup.
Aspirations for peace
The particular talks mark the second plus final phase of a political process that began keep away from with the signing of a Political Framework Agreement for a two-year transition leading to elections. The particular coup ended a power-sharing agreement between military plus civilian leaders established following the April 2019 overthrow of President Omar al-Bashir, who have had ruled for 3 decades. “Accountability is being mentioned in the framework agreement, but it holds true that it needs to be spelled out further , ” he said.
Results-oriented discussions
With the talks underway, Mr. Perthes was asked about the following steps, expressing hope for the near future. Five workshops will be kept, the first of which focused on the road map for the dismantling of the old regime, said Mr. Perthes, who also heads the UN Integrated Changeover Assistance Mission in Sudan ( UNITAMS ). In a statement issued following a 8 January launch in the capital, Khartoum, UN Secretary-General António Guterres described the particular development as “another important step forward towards realizing the aspirations of the Sudanese people for democracy, peace plus sustainable development. ”
Accountability a priority
“I am more optimistic, a lot more optimistic than I was a year ago, ” he revealed. “I believe there is a real chance to get to a political solution, which of course means that a federal government has to be formed very, soon. ” “I was able to witness quite a number of sessions, some meetings and workshops, and I was personally impressed by the level of discussions and sincerity which the Sudanese talked to one another, interacted with one another, ” he or she continued. “It has been very result-oriented, and that is important in this context. ” Some factions have criticized the deal for neglecting issues such as accountability, but Mr. Perthes refuted these claims. “There will be a workshop : probably one of the most important of the five workshops – upon transitional justice, which of course is about accountability and how to practice it in a difficult context, ” he added.
In a better place now
They are being facilitated by UN, the African Union (AU) and the East African bloc IGAD, together referred to as Tripartite Mechanism. Representatives from municipal society, academia, the personal sector, youth, and females rights groups, as well as conventional and religious leaders, may also be taking part in the talks. He also urged the Sudanese people not to lose hope. “We are in a better place than we were a year ago and support people who try to find a solution. No option would be ideal, but having a solution is better than having none. ”
