Sudan coup: The gathering of professionals rejects the international dialogue initiative
Sudan coup: The Sudanese Professionals Association and the Communist Party announced their rejection of the dialogue initiative launched by the United Nations, and while other Sudanese forces and the Sovereignty Council welcomed the initiative, the authorities in the capital, Khartoum, are mobilizing their forces in anticipation of new demonstrations calling for the civil state.
The Association of Professionals said, in a statement, today, Sunday, that it adheres to its declared loyalties by the revolutionary forces in the face of the army, “no negotiation, no partnership, no legitimacy”, until reaching a purely civilian authority that allows the dismantling of totalitarianism, according to the statement.
A member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party, Kamal Karrar, said that there is no dialogue in light of what he called the coup authorities in Sudan, and that dialogue with this current government is completely rejected.
The Professionals Association, which played a major role in the protests that ousted the ousted President Omar al-Bashir, criticized the movements of Volker Peretz, head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in the Transition in Sudan, and described these moves as controversial and contrary to the tasks assigned to the mission he leads.
international initiative
Yesterday, Saturday, the head of the UN mission announced, in a statement, the launch of his organization a new political process with the aim of “restoring the path of transformation that achieves the aspirations of the Sudanese people,” explaining that the United Nations will invite to participate in the dialogue initiative all major stakeholders, civilians and military, including movements Armed groups, political parties, civil society, women’s groups and resistance committees.
In a later statement, the United Nations called for a press conference to be held tomorrow, Monday, in the presence of Peretz, to announce the official launch of the dialogue initiative consultations.
On the other hand, the Sudan Liberation Forces Gathering, led by Al-Taher Hajar, a member of the Sovereign Council, welcomed the United Nations initiative to launch a Sudanese dialogue, and the gathering said that the initiative came at a “difficult timing that needs a real breakthrough that helps the Sudanese restore the democratic path.”
The original Democratic Unionist Party also supported the international initiative, and called on the Sudanese political forces to take advantage of the opportunity for dialogue.
Ibrahim Al-Sheikh, a member of the Central Council of the Forces of Freedom and Change, welcomed the efforts of the UN mission, and told Al Jazeera that this step is urgently required, adding that “the UN mediation can put the train on the right track, before the difficult situation worsens, and sanctions are imposed on Sudan.”
The Political Secretary of the Popular Congress Party, Kamal Omar, said that he welcomes any call for dialogue, calling on the various components to contribute effectively to overcoming crises.
international positions
At the international level, the US State Department said that the Quartet, which includes Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Britain and the United States, welcomed the United Nations initiative, and the ministry urged all actors to seize the opportunity to restore the country’s transition to a civil democracy in line with the Constitutional Declaration.
A welcoming position was also issued by the League of Arab States, Egypt and Qatar, as the League expressed “its readiness to cooperate fully with the United Nations in order to help reach consensus,” and the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said that “activating a dialogue between the Sudanese parties would resolve and overcome the current crisis, and prevent slipping.” into the circle of chaos.
The US State Department urges all actors in Sudan to seize the opportunity presented by the United Nations initiative to restore the country’s transition to a civil democracy in line with the Constitutional Declaration.
The Qatari Foreign Ministry welcomed the United Nations’ announcement of launching preliminary consultations for a comprehensive political process in Sudan, saying that Qatar “looks forward to the consultations paving the way for reaching a consensual formula that represents all Sudanese sects.”
Upcoming demonstrations
On the other hand, the Sudanese authorities closed today, Sunday, roads and bridges in the capital, Khartoum, hours before the start of expected demonstrations today to demand full civilian rule in Sudan.
The official Sudan News Agency stated that Khartoum State issued a decision to close the Blue Nile, White Nile and Mak Nimr bridges, while keeping the bridges of the Armed Forces, Rescue, Soba and Halfaya open.
The authorities also closed the main roads leading to the vicinity of the army general headquarters and the presidential palace with concrete barriers and barbed wire.
Also the security authorities demanded the owners of shops in the center of the capital to evacuate them, and a well-informed security source told Al-Jazeera that security had arrested a number of resistance committee activists in the Abbasiya neighborhoods in Omdurman and Halfaya in Bahri and Al-Dium, south of Khartoum.
The arrests coincide with calls for a protest demonstration today, Sunday, on the occasion of the anniversary of the first large protests organized in the Omdurman region in 2019, as part of a series of peaceful protests that succeeded in overthrowing the regime of President Omar al-Bashir, who ruled the country for 30 years.
Since last October 25, Sudan has witnessed protests in response to exceptional measures, most notably the imposition of a state of emergency, the dissolution of the Sovereignty Councils and the transitional ministers, the dismissal of Prime Minister Abdullah Hamdok, and the arrest of officials and politicians.
On January 2, Hamdok resigned from his position, hours after 3 people were killed in demonstrations in the country.
On November 21, Al-Burhan and Hamdok signed a political agreement that included Hamdok’s return to his position, the formation of a government of competencies, and the release of political detainees, but the agreement was opposed by the protesters.
