Sudanese civilian and political groups opposed to the war have called for an immediate, unconditional humanitarian truce and a Sudanese-led peace process following talks with the Quintet mediation mechanism in Addis Ababa on Monday.
In a statement, the groups said their delegation met the Quintet at the African Union headquarters to discuss ways to end the conflict and establish a peace process owned and led by Sudanese people.
“We stressed the priority of reaching an immediate and unconditional humanitarian truce to protect civilians, ensure the delivery of aid and pave the way for a peace process,” the statement said.
The delegation included representatives of the Sudanese Declaration of Principles forces, the Popular Congress Party, civil society organisations, women’s and youth networks, and public figures.
Former Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok also attended the meeting, which brought together international envoys and representatives of regional and international organisations to discuss efforts to end the conflict.
Participants included the United Nations personal envoy Ramtane Lamamra, African Union envoy Mohamed Ibn Chambas, representatives of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), European Union special representative Annette Weber, and Western observers.
The Sudanese groups proposed a framework built around three interconnected tracks: humanitarian response, a ceasefire and political dialogue to address the root causes of the crisis and lay the foundations for an inclusive peace and a sustainable democratic civilian transition.
They called for civilian forces to participate in designing and leading the process under fair criteria that would prevent any one party from dominating it. The statement also called for the exclusion of the National Congress Party, the Islamic Movement and their affiliated organisations.
The groups urged regional and international mediators to coordinate their efforts under a unified framework bringing together the Quad, the Quintet and the Troika.
They also called for stronger measures to pressure the warring parties and those obstructing peace, including extending the arms embargo to cover all of Sudan, halting external support fuelling the conflict, cutting off funding for the war and holding those responsible for atrocities accountable.
The statement rejected granting legitimacy to authorities established as a result of the war and stressed the importance of preserving Sudan’s territorial integrity and national unity.
The groups said they would continue engaging with the Quintet, the Quad and other actors seeking a peaceful resolution to the conflict. They also pledged to broaden support for an independent civilian anti-war movement that does not align with either side.
Their stated goal is to restore Sudanese people’s rights to security, freedom and democratic civilian rule, and to complete the path of the December Revolution, which led to the overthrow of longtime president Omar al-Bashir in April 2019.
Sudan’s war began on April 15, 2023, when fighting erupted between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces following a power struggle between their leaders. The conflict has displaced millions and triggered a severe humanitarian crisis.
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