By SUDAN TRIBUNE
March 10, 2024 (CAIRO) – Sudan’s National Umma Party (NUP) has proposed reforms to the country’s anti-war coalition, Tagadum. The party argues that the coalition currently lacks impartiality and favours one side of the conflict.
In a proposal submitted to coalition leader Abdallah Hamdok on Saturday night, the NUP emphasizes the need for strict neutrality between the warring parties. They believe this is essential for the coalition to function effectively as a mediator.
The party criticizes the coalition’s decision to sign the Addis Ababa Declaration with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in January, viewing it as a departure from neutrality and a violation of the coalition’s roadmap. The roadmap, agreed upon earlier by Tagadum groups, limited contact with both warring sides to discussions about a ceasefire.
Critics, including many analysts, argued that the Addis Ababa Declaration made a grave error by endorsing the Rapid Support Forces’ claim that Islamists initiated the war. This endorsement compromised Tagadum’s neutrality, which is essential for mediating such conflicts.
The declaration further drew criticism for including political issues regarding the post-war state. These matters, critics maintained, fall outside the purview of the warring military powers and belong solely to the civilian political sphere.
The Umma Party has given the coalition two weeks to respond to their proposed reforms. These reforms include holding a roundtable conference encompassing all of Sudan’s military and political actors.
The proposal avoids explicitly excluding the dissolved National Congress Party (NCP) from the political process. Instead, it advocates for inclusivity, overcoming past issues, and prioritizing representation of political parties and forces.
A key point of contention is the current balance of power within the coalition. The Umma Party objects to the expanded role of civil society groups, professionals, unions, and resistance committees. These entities hold 70% of the representation compared to only 30% for political parties and armed movements.
The NUP voiced concerns about the proposal to categorize “parties and movements” together within the “Tagadum” structure. The NUP, according to sources close to the party, believes this approach fails to acknowledge the key distinction between political parties, which have a popular base, and movements, which often resort to armed struggle to achieve their political aims.
The Umma Party also calls for increased representation of women within the coalition. They point out that women are currently underrepresented, even in the temporary structure. Additionally, they advocate for a credible international investigation into foreign involvement in the conflict.
The anti-war coalition was supposed to hold a founding conference last December. However, this conference has been postponed multiple times in attempts to reach an agreement with the SPLM-N led by Abdelaziz Al-Hilu and to include other parties and armed groups.
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