The southern Sudan mediation efforts, in the Sudan peace negotiations are accelerating, to resolve the security arrangements file between the transitional government and the revolutionary front, to reach a
final agreement between the two parties.
However, all the files put forward at the negotiating table have been dealt with during the past period, and there is nothing left except , the file of structuring the armed movements within the professional
Sudanese national army.
On Thursday, in Juba, direct negotiations on security arrangements between the government and the Darfur track resumes, as the mediation on Wednesday evening extended invitations to all parties to start
talks.
The mediation was planning to make the government and the revolutionary front sign the peace agreement, but the revolutionary front refused to sign before resolving the file of the security
arrangements in the occasion that was scheduled for last Tuesday in Khartoum, where a delegation of the armed movements had submitted to Khartoum with the mediation members to conduct direct consultations
with Government and political forces direct negotiations had been suspended in Juba due to COVID-19.
Member of the negotiating delegation for the Sudan Liberation Movement, Nour Al-Daiem Taha, told Darfur 24, that the movement cannot sign any agreement without reaching a deal on security arrangements,
because the latter is a fundamental issue that represents the spirit of the peace process.
Nour Al-Daiem, explained that the movement has not yet begun security arrangements, but it has a real will to reach an agreement that will lead to the formation of a national, professional and national army
that represents all of Sudan and the Sudanese.
Negotiations between the transitional government and the Revolutionary Front kicked off more than eleven months ago, but the two parties have not yet made any progress in the file of security arrangements,
despite placing it more than once on the negotiating agenda, which makes the possibilities open about the emergence of the file as a major obstacle to reaching an agreement on peace.
But Nour Al-Dayen Taha does not see a problem between the government and the revolutionary government over security arrangements, and he says that the main reason for the delay in resolving the file is the Corona pandemic that has spread all over the world and forced the mediation to suspend direct negotiations between the two parties.
“The mediation presented a proposal to continue in the negotiation via video conference, and we saw that the issue of security arrangements is a sensitive issue and needs direct negotiation. Therefore, the
parties continued in the other files , only the security arrangements is remaining and we will start in days. ” Taha said.
Protection of Internally Displaced people (IDPs)
Darfur Movements in the Sudanese Revolutionary Front, raise the issue of integrating the movements’ army within the security force tasked with achieving security in Darfur and resolving breakdown of securty perpetrated by armed militias, a request that appears to make the army of the movements parallel to the Rapid Support Forces, whose elements are mostly descended from Arab tribes Which fought in the era
of Albashir against armed movements, whose army is mostly descended from non-Arab tribes.
“The frequent attacks on the displaced people now necessitate the urgent need to form a national professional army , consisted of Armed movements forces , rapid support Forces and components of
Sudanese army, to secure the camps for the displaced, relief operations and the restoration of confidence between security organs and innocent citizens who who became victims of genocide and ethnic
cleansing”. Nour Al-Dayen added.
In a tweet, leader of the Justice and Equality Movement, Dr. Gabriel Ibrahim, called for a speedy conclusion of security arrangements, to pave way for creation of a joint army, composed of rapid support
force and fighters of armed movements to maintain security in Darfur and Kordofan.
Ibrahim added that the breakdown of security and lawlessness in the Darfur and Kordofan regions, and the killing of protestors and civilians, need urgent arrival of a security arrangement agreement
that includes the establishment of a joint force of the armed forces, rapid support, and the forces of the armed movements to maintain security and to ensure the return of refugees and internally displaced
persons to their homes.
A leader in the Sudan Liberation Forces Alliance l Noureddine Shamo, told Darfur 24 that the movements are ready to negotiate , they are just awaiting the arrival of the government negotiating delegation
to Juba for the start of the discussion on the file of security arrangements, saying that everyone is ready to reach an agreement on the file.
Difficult test
In Khartoum, government spokesman, Faisal Mohamed Saleh, said on Wednesday that the first stage for achieving peace was completed after lengthy meetings of negotiations, and that the six contentious points that the Revolutionary Front delegation came to Khartoum to discuss had all been agreed upon.
For his part, the expert in peace studies, Dr. Abbas Al-Tajani, told Darfur 24 that the security arrangements file will be the most difficult test for the negotiating parties, but providing confidence, will, serious desire and sincere intentions to the parties , will undoubtedly facilitate the matter and will be the decisive factor in
reaching a common agreement.
Al-Tajani does not see a problem in the demands of the movements to include their army within a military force to guard security in Darfur and assist in the return of the displaced and refugees to their villages, and he says that all armies will be merged and demobilized within the framework of the strategic plan for reform and building a professional national army, and that the United Nations political mission will be close to the file In a way that does not allow any events to happen, as is the case today