This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/dec/11/sudan-call-political-opposition-bashir
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Sudan's political opposition unites under new call for democracy | Sudan's political opposition unites under new call for democracy |
| (4 months later) | |
| There have been many false dawns in Sudan’s political landscape since Omar al-Bashir and his party came to power in a military coup 25 years ago. But a low-key ceremony in Addis Ababa last week to unveil a new political agreement, known as the Sudan Call, may yet prove to be a turning point. | There have been many false dawns in Sudan’s political landscape since Omar al-Bashir and his party came to power in a military coup 25 years ago. But a low-key ceremony in Addis Ababa last week to unveil a new political agreement, known as the Sudan Call, may yet prove to be a turning point. |
| Crucially, the call unites the core of a formerly fragmented political and armed opposition on issues of national governance for the first time, calling for a peaceful and popular democratic transformation. | Crucially, the call unites the core of a formerly fragmented political and armed opposition on issues of national governance for the first time, calling for a peaceful and popular democratic transformation. |
| “We ... have come together and pledged to work to dismantle the one-party state regime and replace it with a state founded on equal citizenship,” it declares. | “We ... have come together and pledged to work to dismantle the one-party state regime and replace it with a state founded on equal citizenship,” it declares. |
| The Sudan Tribune called the deal a “breakthrough” for opposition forces, but Hassabo Mohammed Abdel-Rahman, Sudan’s second vice president, said the call amounts to “treason to the homeland”. | The Sudan Tribune called the deal a “breakthrough” for opposition forces, but Hassabo Mohammed Abdel-Rahman, Sudan’s second vice president, said the call amounts to “treason to the homeland”. |
| The ferocity of the regime’s response to Sudan Call is a testament to its importance. An aggressive speech by Bashir’s ruling party last week deemed the accord an “unholy alliance” manufactured by Sudan’s “international enemies”. | The ferocity of the regime’s response to Sudan Call is a testament to its importance. An aggressive speech by Bashir’s ruling party last week deemed the accord an “unholy alliance” manufactured by Sudan’s “international enemies”. |
| Within 24 hours of their return home from Addis Abbaba two of the signatories, Dr Amin Mekki Medai and Farouk Ab Issa, had been arrested by national security forces and detained incommunicado. | Within 24 hours of their return home from Addis Abbaba two of the signatories, Dr Amin Mekki Medai and Farouk Ab Issa, had been arrested by national security forces and detained incommunicado. |
| #Sudanese opposition, UNP, NOC, SRF & civil society sign the Call for #Sudan Agreement in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia pic.twitter.com/MfeNPPw0DT | |
| Despite the perhaps predictable government response, the deal presents an opportunity for a new approach to the Sudan crisis, which unites the geographic, cultural, religious and political diversities of its peoples – and puts them in the driving seat. | Despite the perhaps predictable government response, the deal presents an opportunity for a new approach to the Sudan crisis, which unites the geographic, cultural, religious and political diversities of its peoples – and puts them in the driving seat. |
| At its heart, it proposes the establishment of a strong foundation for the rights of Sudan’s people and an end to the one-party state, led by al-Bashir’s National Congress Party (NCP). | At its heart, it proposes the establishment of a strong foundation for the rights of Sudan’s people and an end to the one-party state, led by al-Bashir’s National Congress Party (NCP). |
| The signatories, which include representatives from the rebel Sudanese Revolutionary Forces, National Consensus Forces, the National Umma Party, and the Alliance of the Sudanese Civil Society Organisations, write that Sudan is “sliding towards an abyss as a result of the policies of the regime.” | The signatories, which include representatives from the rebel Sudanese Revolutionary Forces, National Consensus Forces, the National Umma Party, and the Alliance of the Sudanese Civil Society Organisations, write that Sudan is “sliding towards an abyss as a result of the policies of the regime.” |
| UNP 3rd rally, mobilising support for #Sudan Call, Kosti, White Nile State pic.twitter.com/5uPzhk7g7q | UNP 3rd rally, mobilising support for #Sudan Call, Kosti, White Nile State pic.twitter.com/5uPzhk7g7q |
| Throughout the document, the signatories maintain it is the Sudanese people - in particular members of the youth movement who took to the streets in September 2013 - who are key to the country’s development, declaring that their movement to peace would “support the engagement of women and youth” in the process.The call also recognises that a new generation of younger political players outside traditional frameworks is on the rise. The formation of groups such as Girifna, Change Now and the Al Khalas Initiative signals wider engagement in political activism in Sudan. | Throughout the document, the signatories maintain it is the Sudanese people - in particular members of the youth movement who took to the streets in September 2013 - who are key to the country’s development, declaring that their movement to peace would “support the engagement of women and youth” in the process.The call also recognises that a new generation of younger political players outside traditional frameworks is on the rise. The formation of groups such as Girifna, Change Now and the Al Khalas Initiative signals wider engagement in political activism in Sudan. |
| Collectively the opposition groups endorse significant methods for change. They call for transformation “through daily popular struggle, including popular uprising to create a solid foundation to secure the rights of Sudanese people.” | Collectively the opposition groups endorse significant methods for change. They call for transformation “through daily popular struggle, including popular uprising to create a solid foundation to secure the rights of Sudanese people.” |
| Unity runs throughout the document. Sudan is one of the most ethnically, culturally and religiously diverse countries in Africa and over the last 25 years al-Bashir’s party has striven to exclude various parts of the population from the benefits of citizenship. Most viciously through a series of wars against the peripheries – in Darfur, South Kordofan and Blue Nile. | Unity runs throughout the document. Sudan is one of the most ethnically, culturally and religiously diverse countries in Africa and over the last 25 years al-Bashir’s party has striven to exclude various parts of the population from the benefits of citizenship. Most viciously through a series of wars against the peripheries – in Darfur, South Kordofan and Blue Nile. |
| But addressing this directly, the signatories demand “the cessation of hostilities in Darfur, Blue Nile and South Kordofan/Nuba Mountains” and crucially, the “dissolution of the government militias” to protect civilians from “killing, displacement and rape.” | But addressing this directly, the signatories demand “the cessation of hostilities in Darfur, Blue Nile and South Kordofan/Nuba Mountains” and crucially, the “dissolution of the government militias” to protect civilians from “killing, displacement and rape.” |
| The call is also a response to the government’s ongoing denial of responsibility for the conflicts and suffering felt across the country. The regime has been particularly determined to avoid any acknowledgement that the wars have their common root in the way Sudan has been governed from the centre of power in khartoum. | The call is also a response to the government’s ongoing denial of responsibility for the conflicts and suffering felt across the country. The regime has been particularly determined to avoid any acknowledgement that the wars have their common root in the way Sudan has been governed from the centre of power in khartoum. |
| In January 2014 al-Bashir introduced five themes to be entered into “national dialogue” with political and civic forces. However major political opposition figures including the four signatories to the Sudan Call boycotted and rejected the initiative. | In January 2014 al-Bashir introduced five themes to be entered into “national dialogue” with political and civic forces. However major political opposition figures including the four signatories to the Sudan Call boycotted and rejected the initiative. |
| They argued that the apparent “dialogue” intended only to reproduce the existing regime, and give the government a veneer of legitimacy ahead of the 2015 national elections. | They argued that the apparent “dialogue” intended only to reproduce the existing regime, and give the government a veneer of legitimacy ahead of the 2015 national elections. |
| It is vital that the international community now puts its faith not in a government which has repeatedly, violently, and with impunity attacked its own citizens, but in those citizens who are attempting to create a genuine equality of citizenship and democratic transformation. | It is vital that the international community now puts its faith not in a government which has repeatedly, violently, and with impunity attacked its own citizens, but in those citizens who are attempting to create a genuine equality of citizenship and democratic transformation. |
| Monim Eljak is co-founder of Sudan Democracy First Group and vice chairperson of the Commission for the Protection of Civilians in the conflict zones of Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile | Monim Eljak is co-founder of Sudan Democracy First Group and vice chairperson of the Commission for the Protection of Civilians in the conflict zones of Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile |
Previous version
1
Next version