Statement: Sudanese civilian leaders call for increased efforts to end the war

CMI – Martti Ahtisaari Peace Foundation brought together a group of Sudanese civilian leaders and influential national figures in Nairobi on 5-6 September 2023. The purpose of the meeting was to identify a mechanism for unifying the civilian forces and to discuss how to achieve a lasting ceasefire agreement to end the war in Sudan and resume a political process, as well as the role of civilians in this process.

At the end of the two-day meeting, the participants agreed on common principles, calling for an end to the ongoing war and atrocities. They stressed the need for increased efforts to resume an inclusive and comprehensive political process that would put Sudan back on the path to becoming a civic, democratic and sovereign state.

Specific mechanisms proposed included the development of a media discourse to counter and de-legitimise the war narrative and an urgent appeal to the international community to expedite relief operations for Sudanese IDPs and refugees and to open humanitarian corridors for civilians in areas of fighting. Participants stressed the importance of regional and international efforts to coordinate and consolidate their ongoing political efforts and to launch a diplomatic effort to counter regional involvement in the conflict.

In addition, a Sudan-led effort, supported by the international community, to hold a preparatory and inclusive meeting for civilian actors should be prepared. The preparatory meeting(s) should lead to an inclusive and broad-based national dialogue conference aimed at achieving a broad consensus among social and political factions, including armed groups and movements, while ensuring the representation of women and youth.

On 15 April 2023, Sudan plunged into a violent conflict when a power struggle broke out between the two main factions of the ruling military regime, the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Since then, more than four million people have been displaced within Sudan and across its borders and thousands have been killed or injured.

You can read the participants’ statement here in English and here in Arabic.