Sudan: ‘Taqaddum’ emphasizes need to end war

Sudanese refugees who fled the conflict in Sudan gather July 1, 2023, at the Zabout refugee Camp in Goz Beida, Chad. (Marie-Helena Laurent/WFP via AP)

A coalition of civil society said that mobilizing local, regional, and international communities is significant in addressing the dire humanitarian situation in Sudan.

A coalition of civil society said that mobilizing local, regional, and international communities is significant in addressing the dire humanitarian situation in Sudan.

The Sudanese Coordination of Civil Democratic Forces (Taqaddum) emphasized the importance of collective responsibility of all partners in addressing the extensive catastrophic humanitarian situations in Sudan and the appalling violations committed by conflict parties against innocent civilians.

The group said this during a Wednesday meeting with a delegation from the African Union High-Level Mechanism, chaired by Mohammed Ben Shambas, at the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa.

During the meeting, the delegation referred to the proposal it presented regarding a roadmap for ending the war and declaration principles, which the Taqaddum developed in late November last year, and discussed its contents in detail with the mechanism.

The delegation also explained the mechanism of the work being done by the Taqaddum to build a broader umbrella for civil democratic forces opposed to the war and about progress in preparing for a first peace conference in the near future.

“Both sides emphasized the importance of launching a Sudanese-owned political process that addresses the roots of the crisis, ends the war, and re-establishes the state on a civil democratic basis to complete the path of the glorious December revolution,” the Tagaddum group said.

Meanwhile, the high-level African Union mechanism delegation appreciated Taqaddum for its peace efforts in the war-ravaged Sudan.

The high-level African Union mechanism delegation revealed during the meeting its initial consultation phase with Sudan on how to initiate a political process to halt the war and address the root causes of the Sudanese crisis.

Both parties affirmed their commitment to continue close consultations to expedite efforts to end the war and build peace in Sudan.

The Sudanese Coordination of Civil Democratic Forces is a coalition of civil society, youth, vocational and feminist groups working towards bolstering democracy and human rights in Sudan. The body is led by former Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok. 

The coalition has been active in recent months to help end the war between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). It has held several meetings in neighbouring countries to tackle the conflict.