Envisioning a path to peace and stability in Sudan

by Mohamed Salih Mohamed YASSIN (PhD)
Former First Undersecretary of Federal Governance in the Transitional Government of Sudan
[email protected]   / [email protected]

The Sudan is an African country located within the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea Region. The Horn of Africa is a region located in the eastern part of Africa, known for its distinctive horn-like shape that protrudes into the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Aden, shaping a peninsula in Northeast Africa (Illustrated in IGAD’s reported map). These regions have been characterized by evolving complex geopolitical, cultural dynamics and challenges of significant importance. These regions include the countries of Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, and Sudan, which is geopolitically considered as a constituent player within the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea regions. While on the other coast, on the Asian continent, we find Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Israel, and Palestine up to Egypt on both sides of the Mediterranean and Red Sea. These countries, historically and geographically, must be considered in the peace and security ties of Sudan.

The current Sudan is influenced by land marking events ranging from slavery, colonization, incomplete revolutions, protracted wars and conflicts, genocides, territorial disintegrations. Furthermore, as evident by the ongoing growing war and the repeated genocides, Sudan will never be the same. Doubtless, the current dilemma in Sudan will drastically transform it to an unpredictable destiny, compromising its existential being, unless concerted cooperative and coordinated serious actions are taken by the Sudanese people, amalgamated by the support of the regional and international stakeholders and partners.

Achieving and sustaining peace through comprehensive political systems in the context of geopolitics in Africa and in Sudan in particular is a challenging and demanding dilemma. As the peace and security in Sudan and the Horn of Africa are directly interconnected and interdependent on the peace and security of the Red Sea Region, which makes it a complex territorial system not only of national but rather of trans-boundary nature and characterization. Therefore, achieving and sustaining peace requires comprehensive efforts that should not exclude fundamental aspects, including but not limited to economic, social, environmental, and cultural dimensions. Thus, hereafter, let us enumerate some points that can help analytically and critically understand the built political systems entitled to promote peace at local, national, and transnational level, to mention but a few such as the:

1. Good governance and democracy: Any effort aiming at achieving sustainable and durable peace and security, and eventually construction-reconstruction or rehabilitation and sustainable development in Sudan should boldly consider promoting good and democratic governance systems that include citizens’ participation in decision-making and ensuring human rights. Additionally, it should work seriously and consistently on developing strong and transparent institutions that regulate governance and fight corruption. The protracted man-made and natural crises, conflicts, genocides, partial disintegration, and the continuity of the war in Sudan have led to dilapidated governance systems which imperatively require a comprehensive reform and resetting. Sudan as a federally governed country is currently composed of 187 localities distributed between 18 states, with an unbalanced developmental status. In order to resume its democratic transition, restore the transitional constitutional order, and embrace a good governance system, a digital transformative governance system is badly needed to compute an overall reshaping of a national project on sound principles and balanced developmental orientation, and devolution in terms of equitable power and wealth sharing. The intended socioeconomic devolution should be a cornerstone anchored on the unity of the country benefiting from the diversity of its people and natural endowments blessing the Sudans. The dysfunctional governance system in Sudan has consequential socioeconomic implications dissipating via forced migration through the shared porous boundaries with Egypt, Libya, Chad, Central African Republic, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Eritrea, and the adjacent the Red Sea countries. This implies that any endeavour to address the peace and security challenging dilemma in Sudan should cater for the regional and trans-boundary complex dimensions. Which implies addressing issues of peace and security in Sudan in connection and interdependence with its complex systems of the Red Sea, Horn of Africa, and beyond.

Principles of good governance ranging from fighting against corruption, rule of law, transparency, accountability, social justice, reconciliation, and transitional justice should be put in place and practiced. Essentially, a comprehensive and participatory constitutional building process, given the non-constitutional governance systems currently illegitimately running the country.

2. Education and awareness

The endeavours to reciprocally achieve and sustain peace and security as a priority to construct a national project should be oriented towards promoting education and awareness among citizens about the importance of peace and the values of tolerance while integrating educational programs that promote cultural understanding and respect to cultural diversity. In general, Sudanese people should be enabled to fully understand that peace and security are not merely about agreements to be inked, as in most of the dishonoured cases, but rather a tangible value and reciprocal collective benefit. Digital inclusion and social media could play a major role as a vector of dissemination to the culture of peaceful co-existence and mutually respected values. The potential of digitalization should be used as a medium for constitutional consultation and peace building processes. Currently, there is a suitable momentum to run a popular consultation on issues related to a possible comprehensive peace agreement laying the foundation for a constitutional assembly to draft a permanent constitution for Sudan.

Experience and knowledge sharing from around the globe are available, and there are plenty of similar or analogous experiences as the case of Sudan. Sudanese people can take stock of that through specialized institutions and through architecture a popular constitutional consultation culminating in a constitutional local and national referendum.

3. Economic development

There should be a well-articulated and written vision in engineering and promoting sustainable economic development to improve living conditions, restore means of sustainable livelihood, and reduce poverty in Sudan. In general, addressing the developmental imbalances within its territories. Fundamentally, that should be diligently achieved by encouraging targeted, responsible investments and decent job creation to reduce economic tension and developmental inequalities. Luckily, Sudan is endowed with huge and diverse natural capital coupled with excellent human capital. The Sudanese diaspora can wisely drive the country towards the good developmental position, preserving its full sovereignty, integrity, and unity in the mid and long term, conditioned by achieving and sustaining peace and security in the country and the regions.

4. Social justice

Social justice in Sudan is vitally needed for the sacred remedial functions of promoting equality and social justice, in order to reduce social tensions and implement policies that reduce economic and social disparities. Especially in regard to the rural-urban divide and gaps generated since the inception of the post-independence Sudan. The inherited and induced imbalances should be addressed with courage and knowledge.

5. Diplomacy and negotiation

Promoting diplomacy and negotiation as a means of resolving conflicts, achieving peace, and sustaining security is the core issue in transboundary relations. That is harnessed, enhanced, and mutually enforced by supporting international mediation and international cooperation to address cross-border challenges. Sincere dialogue, openness, and diligent flexibility, compromises, and reconciliation are fundamental and essential requirements to maintain peace, assure mutually beneficial security, constructive destinies, and paths towards prosperity.

6. Promoting a culture of peace

All efforts for achieving and sustaining peace and security in Sudan and the connected regions should encourage the building of a culture of peace and tolerance in society. The effect of media, discussions, and arts can achieve this. In order to enhance understanding and cooperation between communities. The ongoing war in Sudan is generating hatred sentiments nurtured by induced ill speeches and violent actions on ethnic and tribal bases, if not adequately and promptly addressed, it will constitute a real toxic danger for the integrity of a national unity in Sudan and beyond.

7. Addressing humanitarian issues

It is a prerequisite for achieving peace and security in Sudan to pay due attention and focus on human rights and addressing injustice and persecution. Special considerations and measured attention should be channelled to providing unhindered, immediate, and unconditioned support for displaced persons and refugees and resolving humanitarian issues comprehensively. Substantial finance should be raised through innovative mechanisms and good governance principles to address the temporary humanitarian issues while laying bases for medium and long-term pathways for sustainable development.

8. Citizen participation and engagement

All citizens of Sudan should be adequately engaged to be effective participants in real political participation through the civil societies and political parties, in order to ensure equal citizen and soundly inclusive participation in democracy, development, constitutional building, representative parliamentary, legislative and electoral processes.

These points are not exhaustive but are foundational for achieving and maintaining peace in Sudan and largely in the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea Regions. These issues require international cooperation and sustained efforts over the long term, in addition to the short and mid-terms. Incorporating these elements into government and intergovernmental policies and practices is an imperative cornerstone which can help build more stable and positively engaged societies at all levels.

Sudan has recently emerged from a fascist, totalitarian regime that lasted for three decades through a popular revolution. The revolution put forward a comprehensive program based primarily on democracy, foundations of social justice, and how to manage Sudanese diversity. This was represented in its glorious December 2018 revolution slogan, “Freedom, Peace and Justice”.

Now, the imperative priority for Sudan is to stop the ongoing war immediately and start a comprehensive fast-track reconstruction and rehabilitation program based on sustainable development principles and a severe nation-building project. Peace-making in Sudan was previously linked to partial solutions. Now, we need a comprehensive visionary perspective and a new paradigm through which we can reach democratic transformation and a state of citizenship without discrimination.

The 25 October 2021 coup d’état and the subsequent April 2023 war are the product of the forces of the Sudanese counter-revolution and the old forces of the Muslim Brothers regime led by Bashir and his allies that do not want change or the comprehensive perspective of peace. The Muslim Brothers fanatics are the ones who brought Sudan into the coup d’état in a failing attempt to restore the publically deposed power for the sake of wealth and led Sudan to the brinks of the ongoing war with ever-growing possibilities of disintegration and complete collapse of the country.

Despite the destruction and disasters that the protracted war left behind, there is a vivid hope that this war also represents an opportunity to re-establish the nation-state on a sound basis though completing the objectives and specific tasks of the revolution and inspiration of the Sudanese citizens, most importantly eradicating and finding a lasting remedy to the destabilizing issues connected to the multiplicity of armies to a unique professional, non-politicized army that reflects the Sudanese diversity and defends a possible agreed constitution. This forms the basis of the issues of stability and peace and reaching democratic civil rule during a transitional period and what follows it through regular, free, fair, open, transparent and democratic elections engaging all the Sudanese without exclusion.

For peace to be a living reality, it requires hard work on a truly democratic practice that is based on a smooth democratic transition and bold institutions that work transparently in strengthening the foundations of sustainable governance and development, meaning that there are sustainable mechanisms that work to make, build and maintain peace and security through the rule of law and respect of human rights.

The Sudan, the Horn of Africa, and the Red Sea regions are characterized by their strategic location, diverse cultures, languages, and ethnic groups, and their rich history of trade and cultural exchange. However, the region also faces a number of challenges, including political instability, conflicts, poverty, and environmental issues.

Despite these challenges, there are also significant opportunities for development in the region. The region’s strategic location makes it important for global trade and maritime security. The region is also home to a number of natural resources, including oil, gas, and minerals.

In order to achieve peace and stability in the region, it is important to address the root causes of conflict. This includes promoting good governance, addressing poverty and inequality, and combating terrorism and piracy. It is also important to strengthen regional cooperation and support for peacebuilding efforts.

With concerted efforts, the Sudan, the Horn of Africa, and the Red Sea regions can overcome their challenges and achieve peace, stability, and prosperity.

Specifically, the following steps can be taken to address the challenges in the region and promote peace and stability:

• Address the root causes of conflict: This includes addressing political grievances, ethnic tensions, and economic inequalities.
• Promote good governance: This includes strengthening the rule of law, combating corruption, and ensuring that government institutions are accountable to the people.
• Support economic development: This includes investing in infrastructure, education, and healthcare.
• Strengthen regional cooperation: This includes working together to address shared challenges and to promote trade and investment.
• Combat terrorism and piracy: This includes providing security assistance to countries in the region and working to address the root causes of these problems.

If these steps are taken, the Sudan, the Horn of Africa, and the Red Sea regions can become a more peaceful and prosperous region. Insecurity and instability in Sudan as well as any country of the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea regions will inevitably have repercussions on the entire regions and is going to jeopardize the peace and stability in the surrounding territories and will expand if not timely addressed and contained through robust peace keeping mechanism. There will be no development in the interconnected Horn of Africa and the Red Sea regions without peace and stability. The reverse is also true since there is no peace without sustainable development in this beloved country, region and worldwide.

Acknowledgements

I am deeply grateful for the opportunity and support extended by my fellow advocates for peace, justice, and freedom from the Euro-African fraternity and the sisters and brothers of Sudan, both North and South. A special thank you goes to our esteemed friend Prof. Nicolas Badoui, along with Europe and France’s unwavering commitment, both from its people and organizations, to fostering peace and democracy in Sudan. I am particularly grateful to the Paris Graduate School and the PartinariatEurAfraicain for hosting these colloquia, the Max Planck Foundation, and the University of Saint Joseph in Lebanon, which provided the platform for my engagement on constitutional and governance issues and where initiatives for sustainable peace, reconstruction, constitutional building, and sustainable development governance for Sudan are taking shape. My sincere thanks also go to Mr. Abdelnasir Abashar Muhanna of the International Relations department at Lille University for his careful review of this contribution. This paper, presented in part at the colloquium, serves as a foundation for further work and welcomes enriching contributions from stakeholders for the betterment of the Sudanese and regional citizenry.

*This paper was presented at a colloquium organized by the Paris Graduate School in collaboration with the EurAfriacian fraternity, Paris, France.

Intervention presented by

former first undersecretary of Federal Governance in the transitional government of Sudan

E-mails: [email protected]   / [email protected]