Sudan’s FCC Reject Unilateral Government Formation by Warring Rivals

FFC leaders meet with the media on September 1, 2022

September 15, 2023 (KHARTOUM) – The Forces for Freedom and Change (FFC) and the Justice and Equality Movement – Suleiman Sandal (JEM Sandal) have voiced their opposition to any attempt by the conflicting parties in Sudan to establish governments within their respective territories.

In a statement released on Friday, the FFC said they would initiate direct and immediate dialogue with the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) to dissuade them from taking actions that might exacerbate the Sudanese divide, particularly by threatening to establish governance structures within their areas of control.

The FFC underscored their complete disapproval of any attempt that might lead to the proliferation of governmental bodies within the country. Such a scenario, they argued, could intensify the ongoing conflict and widen the scope of hostilities. Additionally, they highlighted that the two parties do not enjoy any legitimacy to form any government since the coup carried out by the military component on October 25, 2021.

In an audio recording, the RSF leader, Mohamed Hamdan Daglo “Hemetti” issued a veiled threat to establish an administrative authority in regions under his control, with Khartoum as the prospective capital. This move was positioned as a response to the potential formation of a “war government” in Port Sudan, situated in the eastern part of the country, by the head of the Sovereign Council and commander-in-chief of the Sudanese army Abdel Fattah al-Burhan.

After his departure from Khartoum last August, it was reported that al-Burhan had been considering the establishment of a government operating out of Port Sudan. This follows his relocation there after spending four months at the army headquarters in Khartoum.

Concurrently, the Democratic Bloc, which includes several armed groups participating in government, proposed a two-year transitional period, overseen by a Sovereign Council comprising both military and civilian figures.

The FFC said they would hold consultations with political and civilian groups, in order to forge a comprehensive anti-war civil front and safeguard Sudan’s unity. They also expressed their determination to engage regional and international stakeholders to raise awareness about the evolving conflict dynamics, urging them to play a constructive role in ending the senseless war and facilitating the return to democratic civilian governance.

Similarly, the Justice and Equality Movement, led by Suleiman Sandal, categorically rejected the unilateral formation of any Sudanese government prior to the conclusion of a comprehensive political agreement encompassing all relevant parties and issues pertaining to the governance structure.

“After he got out of the siege, Sudanese Army Commander-in-Chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan took Port Sudan as an alternate capital and embarked on a series of foreign visits. While people held out hope for peace, reports have emerged of his inclination to establish a one-sided government,” read a statement issued by JEM Sandal.

The movement described any such development as “perilous” and called upon all Sudanese to vehemently oppose any unilateral government formation.

The group appealed to both sides of the conflict to promptly return to the negotiating table in Jeddah and ink a lasting ceasefire agreement aimed at ending the war.

Two weeks ago, Sandal, who was JEM’s former political secretary and several leaders announced their split from their group and apologized for backing the coup d’état carried by Burah and his former deputy  Hemetti.

Since April 15, hostilities have raged between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces in Khartoum, and the conflict’s reach rapidly extended to encompass areas in the Darfur and Kordofan regions.

(ST)