Leaders of the armed movements of the Sudanese Revolutionary Front (SRF) alliance are expected to return to Sudan on Sunday, after a decade-long war with government forces in Darfur, South Kordofan and the Blue Nile.
The leaders signed a peace agreement with the government in Juba, the capital of South Sudan, on October 3, days after the Sovereign Council issued a general pardon.
The amnesty, declared by Sovereign Council chairman Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, will allow the leaders to join the transitional government, extending to “anyone who carried weapons, participated in any of the military or war operations, or contributed to any act or statement related to combat operations.”
However, it excludes anyone facing criminal charges, is wanted for crimes against humanity and genocide, or is wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC).
A member of the welcoming committee, Maher Abu al-Joukh, said that the number of officials that will receive the leaders has been dropped to a third and welcoming parades in the governorates have been cancelled due to coronavirus concerns.
He told Asharq Al-Awsat that the committee discussed the dangers of crowds amid the outbreak. The Ministry of Health had announced a spike in COVID-19 cases and that the country had entered the second wave of infections.
Meanwhile, the government declared Sunday an official holiday, in celebration of the peace agreement and in preparation for the arrival of the leaders.
The Sudanese government and the SRF armed groups signed a peace agreement in October after a series of negotiations mediated by the government of South Sudan.
The agreement stipulated the effective participation of SRF movements in the federal institutions including: nominating three of their members for the Sovereign Council, five federal ministers, and 75 deputies for the Transitional Legislative Council. It also declared their participation in the governments of Darfur, South Kordofan and the Blue Nile.
However, two groups, the Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM) faction led by Abdelwahid el-Nour and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) led by Abdelaziz el-Hilu did not sign the agreement
Negotiations are underway with el-Hilu to be included in the agreement, while no date has been set for the talks with el-Nur.
The peace agreement will end decades of fighting between government and armed movements' forces, following the outbreak of the conflict in Darfur in 2003, and in the regions of Nuba Mountains and the Blue Nile in 2011.
