The Embassies of France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the Delegation of the European Union welcome the Sudanese Bar Association’s (SBA) publication of a draft transitional constitution framework document to achieve a broadly acceptable and inclusive civilian-led government that can put Sudan on a path to democracy and elections. We assess this is a serious and encouraging initiative.
No political agreement can be credible or sustainable if it is not inclusive or does not enjoy a wide base of popular support. We commend the SBA initiative’s inclusion of a broad spectrum of Sudanese stakeholders and careful expert technical review, and we are encouraged by the initial signs of support from diverse Sudanese actors since the release of the SBA document. However, more work is needed to ensure any agreement on a transitional arrangement is acceptable to a clear majority of political and social forces. No single actor, group or coalition should have monopoly on the political process. To move forward, Sudan must come together.
The core principles identified in the SBA document are principles that will be critical to achieving a credible and effective system of civilian-led transitional governance that unlocks resumption of international cooperation and support.
As Sudan faces economic security and humanitarian crises and the anniversary of the 25 October 2021 military takeover approaches, we emphasize the need for all Sudanese actors – including Sudan’s military – to constructively engage in a political process to restore a civilian-led transition to democracy.
We also reiterate our firm support for the ongoing efforts of the tripartite mechanism (the United Nations, African Union, and Intergovernmental Authority on Development) to help bridge differences among parties and initiatives and to facilitate a restoration of a civilian-led transition to democracy.