Sudan Coup: UN Offers To Hold Talks As Mediator

The United Nations (UN) announced that it will hold talks as a mediator between civilian and military leaders, to bring an end to the ongoing violence in Sudan. The announcement came a week after Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok resigned, following a failure to broker an agreement between civilian and military leaders regarding transitioning power to civilian rule. The failed agreement and resignation sparked more protests around the country, to which the military responded with force and killed at least 60 people. The UN envoy to Sudan, led by Volker Perthes said it will make the talks “inclusive” by inviting key players from Sudan’s women group, rebel groups, civil society, political parties, and the military. The talks aim to create a “sustainable path forward towards democracy and peace,” said Perthes. However, protesters refuse a power-sharing agreement and demand a return to civilian rule. The political deadlock between civilian and military leaders may lead to further instability if no agreement is reached.

The UN initiative for talks is gaining support from the international community, urging the Sudanese political leaders to “seize this opportunity to restore the country’s transition to civilian democracy.” The Forces of Freedom and Change (FFC), a major opposition coalition in Sudan, welcomed the UN-led talks. The group also said it welcomes “any international effort that contributes to achieving the goals of the Sudanese people in combatting the coup and establishing a civil and democratic state.” However, the Sudanese Professionals’ Association (SPA), one of the main organizers for the anti-coup protests has denied the UN’s offer to mediate talks. The group under the slogan, “No negotiations, no compromise, no power-sharing” with the military demands the full restoration of civilian rule. It also stated that the removal of generals from power is the “only way” to end the crisis in Sudan.

The crisis that began in the 2019 coup only seems to worsen with the recent protests and deaths. After the 2019 coup, A new government was formed and led by Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok in a power-sharing agreement between the pro-democracy group and the military leaders. In October 2021, the military arrested Hamdok dissolved Sudan’s ruling council and the transitional government, and announced a state of emergency, sparking more protests. After pressure from the international community, Hamdok was released on November 4th, and reinstated as prime minister and days later a deal was struck to reverse the military takeover and restore the transition to civilian rule with elections in 2023. However, many civilians rejected the deal and renewed demonstrations, to which the military responded with force, killing several. Hamdok resigned, stating that Sudan is “is crossing a dangerous turning point that threatens its whole survival.”

The UN’s offer as a mediator presents Sudan with a perfect chance to return to democracy peacefully. However, the SPA’s decision to reject the offer threatens what the UN hopes to achieve a “sustainable path forward towards democracy and peace.” It is clear that the SPA lost trust with the military leaders over the crackdown of peaceful demonstrations that killed 60 people. Therefore, it is crucial for the UN to establish trust between the military leaders and the SPA to bring peace and democracy to Sudan. The SPA should also consider accepting UN’s offer to bring an end to the ongoing violence. 

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