Sudanese Opposition Drafts Document on Civilian Rule

Sudanese protesters at a demonstration in Khartoum. (AFP file photo)
Sudanese protesters at a demonstration in Khartoum. (AFP file photo)
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Sudanese Opposition Drafts Document on Civilian Rule

Sudanese protesters at a demonstration in Khartoum. (AFP file photo)
Sudanese protesters at a demonstration in Khartoum. (AFP file photo)

The Sudanese opposition Freedom and Change coalition announced a new political document titled "Demands and Procedures to End the Coup," based on the civil-military dialogue held last week under US-Saudi mediation.

The document, a copy of which was obtained by Asharq Al-Awsat, identified three stages to end the coup and establish civil rule.

The first step calls for ending the coup, followed by the phase of "constitutional foundation" with the participation of the forces that resisted the coup and the military component.

The final stage calls for establishing the democratic path, which represents the Sudanese people who believe in democracy, supported by the tripartite mechanism takes the tangible steps.

The document said that the political solution must include the establishment of a unified national army that distances itself from politics.

It called for reviewing the economic activity of the military and security establishment and going through a transitional process that exposes crimes, holds violators accountable, brings justice to the victims, and prioritizes the national economy.

The document stipulated dismantling the June 30, 1989 regime, recovering looted funds, implementing the Juba Peace Agreement, and reviewing it with its parties.

It called for establishing an anti-corruption commission, building a balanced foreign policy that preserves the country's interests, formulating a permanent constitution, and preparing for free, fair, and transparent elections within 18-24 months.

The document defined the institutions of transition as a limited civilian Sovereign Council, a cabinet of independent national figures and prime minister chosen by the forces of the revolution.

It described the establishment of a limited parliament with 40 percent of seats allocated to women.

The document stressed the formation of a Security and Defense Council chaired by the prime minister and including leaders of the regular forces, armed movements, and relevant ministries to implement security reform policies.

It underlined the importance of reforming the judiciary, the Public Prosecution Office, and the Constitutional Court in line with a democratic system and adopting a "decentralized" federal approach.

It set out a roadmap that includes implementing measures to create a democratic environment, signing a copy of a declaration of principles binding to all parties, dissolving the institutions that emerged after the October 25 military coup, and forming new institutions in line with the final agreement before kicking off any direct negotiations between the army and civilians.

The US-Saudi mediation, led by US Assistant Secretary of State Catherine Phee and the Saudi ambassador in Khartoum, Ali bin Hassan Jaafar, had gathered the military and the Forces of Freedom and Change for talks last week.

The meetings called for the lifting of emergency measures, protecting the civilians and the cessation of violence against them. They called for the release of detainees, returning funds recovered by the transitional government, and initiating immediate accountability measures against human rights violators.



UNICEF: Funding Cuts Drive Sudan's Children to the Brink of Irreversible Harm

This picture taken on September 1, 2023 shows a view of destruction in a market area in al-Fasher, the capital of Sudan's North Darfur state. (Photo by AFP)
This picture taken on September 1, 2023 shows a view of destruction in a market area in al-Fasher, the capital of Sudan's North Darfur state. (Photo by AFP)
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UNICEF: Funding Cuts Drive Sudan's Children to the Brink of Irreversible Harm

This picture taken on September 1, 2023 shows a view of destruction in a market area in al-Fasher, the capital of Sudan's North Darfur state. (Photo by AFP)
This picture taken on September 1, 2023 shows a view of destruction in a market area in al-Fasher, the capital of Sudan's North Darfur state. (Photo by AFP)

Funding cuts are driving an entire generation of children in Sudan to the brink of irreversible harm as support is scaled back and malnutrition cases persist across the country, the UN children's agency said on Tuesday.

UNHCR and other UN agencies face one of the worst funding crises in decades, compounded by US and other donor states' decisions to slash foreign aid funding, Reuters reported.

"Children have limited access to safe water, food, healthcare. Malnutrition is rife, and many good children are reduced to just skin, bones," said Sheldon Yett, UNICEF's Representative in Sudan, speaking via video link from Port Sudan.

Sudan's conflict between the army and rival Rapid Support Forces has displaced millions and split the country into rival zones of control with the RSF still deeply embedded in western Sudan.

Several areas to the south of Sudan's capital Khartoum are at risk of famine, the World Food Program said in July.

Children were being cut off from life-saving services due to funding cuts, while the scale of need is staggering, UNICEF said.

"With recent funding cuts, many of our partners in Khartoum and elsewhere have been forced to scale back... We are being stretched to the limit across Sudan, with children dying of hunger," Yett said.

"We on the verge of irreversible damage being done to an entire generation of children in Sudan."

Only 23% of the 4.6 billion dollar global humanitarian response plan for Sudan has been funded, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

Access to areas in need also continues to be a challenge, with some roads rendered inaccessible due to the rainy season, hampering aid delivery efforts, UNICEF said. Other areas continue to be under siege, such as Al-Fashir.

"It has been one year since famine was confirmed in ZamZam camp and no food has reached this area. Al-Fashir remains under siege. We need that access now," said Jens Laerke of OCHA.