National Dialogue Process

Last January, President Bashir launched a national dialogue initiative in which he urged opposition parties and rebels to join the dialogue to discuss pressing issues including ending the wars in the peripheries, allowing political freedoms for individuals and parties, fighting against poverty and revitalizing national identity. The 7+7 committee includes members of the government and parties loyal to the government (7) and opposition parties (7). The National Dialogue Committee coordinates the activities of political forces that are participating in the dialogue process and is intended to be partially independent of the government.

Time line of key events in the national dialogue process - 2014

January - Bashir invites opposition parties to join national dialogue as promised. It has been boycotted by many of the main opposition parties. The Sudanese Communist Party, largely a party for older, intellectual and political elite (but still playing a relevant role) – as well as others said that first a conducive environment should be created and wars put to an end, before they would join the process.

April – A round table event with 83 political parties and the ruling NCP took place.  It was boycotted by National Consensus Forces (consisting of the Umma Party, the Communist Party and the Popular Congress Party) because conditions of ceasefires, justice and freedom were not met.

May - Arrest of Al Sadiq Al-Mahdi, head of the Umma Party, for claiming that Rapid Support forces (RSF) are engaging in criminal activity such as rape, pillaging and other abuses in Darfur and Kordofan.  The RSF are made up of militia loyal to the government that have been subsumed into the regular army but are officially part of the National Intelligence and Security Services. This was seen as the first tangible stumbling block to the national dialogue process.  Al Sadiq’s subsequent arrest could also be seen as silencing the most well known opposition leader and the one who, due to traditional sectarian allegiances, is most able to incite people to action.

August – Paris Declaration: Members of the opposition National Umma Party (NUP) and the rebel alliance Sudan Revolutionary Front (SRF) met in Paris to discuss concerns about the national dialogue. Both the NUP (individually) and the SRF, are not participating in the process because of their doubts about the government’s intention to initiate what they see as meaningful reform. On 8 August, they signed the statement known as the “Paris Declaration”, calling for genuine political reform and an end to the various conflicts. They also aim to unify opposition parties in Sudan. The declaration also asserts that the conditions for national dialogue currently do not exist in Sudan, primarily a reference to the continued detention of political prisoners.

September - Paris declaration signatories comprised of the SRF and the National Umma Party (NUP) and the national dialogue subcommittee for external liaison drafted and signed a framework plan for the national dialogue and constitutional process in Addis Ababa under the aegis of the African Union Hi-Level Implementation Panel (AU-HIP) chaired by Thabo Mbeki.

November - The ‘Sudan call’ was signed in Addis Ababa calling for the end of war, dismantlement of the one-party state, achievement of a comprehensive peace and democratic transition in the country.

The agreement was signed by the head of the National Consensus Forces (NCF), Farouk Abu Issa (former Foreign Minister under Nimeiri); deputy chairman of the SRF Minni Minnawi; leader of the National Umma Party (NUP) Al-Sadiq Al Mahdi and head of the Alliance of the Sudanese Civil Society Organisations, Amin Mekki Madani. Farouk Abu Essa and Amin Mekki Medani were promptly arrested when they arrived on Sudanese soil. They remain in detention.

December – Almahdi’s son, who is now a presidential advisor, meets with Bashir to discuss bringing groups back in to the process. But after a year of threats, clampdowns and mistrust it is likely that the process has been derailed.

National dialogue committee condemns arrest of key people in the dialogue process saying it is not conducive of an environment of trust.

Overall, the National Dialogue process is largely seen as either inefficient, or as a smoke screen designed to draw attention away from the looming election, which Bashir is set to win.  Others have called it theatre, acting out the script of national unity and dialogue despite a bad economy, fewer opportunities and continuing conflict. The overarching mistrust between the government and those with whom it aims to talk is hindering the legitimacy of the process at every turn.

Key political parties and armed groups with political power

NCP - The National Congress Party

In power since it broke away from the National Islamic Front in 1991. It is headed by the President Omer al-Bashir and has a pronounced Islamic ideology and strong military base.  Al-Bashir himself is a Field Marshal but has moved the party to become a more political group whilst maintaining strong military ties.

NCF - The National Consensus Forces

Set up in 2012, this is a coalition of Sudanese opposition political parties attempting to remove the National Congress Party (NCP) from power. Currently led by former Nimeiri Foreign Minister Farouk Abu Essa the group consists of the Umma Party (NUP), the Popular Congress Party and the Sudanese Communist Party.

NUP – The National Umma Party

Led by twice Prime Minister al-Sadiq al-Mahdi, this party had widespread support through the Mahdi heartland of Kordofan, Darfur and the Dongola region of Northern Sudan.  Largely a sect, this group has always played a lead role is Sudanese politics since independence and has relied on its steady base of Mahdi followers as well as the legacy of Mohammed Ahmad Al-Mahdi (the forbear of current leader Al-Sadiq) who fought the British in battles in the 1890s and won.

PCP – The Popular Congress Party

Led by Hassan al-Turabi, a prominent figure in Sudanese politics since his university days in the 1960s. The party was founded after his ousting from the NCP in 1999.  He has recently made peace with al-Bashir who has arrested, jailed and held him under house arrest on and off for many years. Despite this recent rapprochement al-Turabi now advocates for the removal of the NCP through popular uprising.

SCP – The Sudan Communist Party

Founded in 1946 this party is one of the oldest in Sudan and has played a leading role in recent Sudanese history. Recently however it has not managed to capture the imagination of the youth and has seen some of its support wane. Its charismatic leader Mohammed Ibrahim Nugud died in 2012 leaving Muhamed Mukhtar al-Khatib in charge.

DUP – The Democratic Unionist Party

Led by Mohammed Osman al-Mirghani this party was founded in 1967 in a merger between the National Unionist Party (which initially wanted unity with Egypt at independence) and the People’s Democratic Party (which is traditionally based on the Khatmiyya sect followers).  The party leadership signed a reconciliation agreement with the ruling NCP in 2005 and entered into government in 2011.  Mohammed Mirghani’s son Ja’far al- Sadiq recently became a presidential aide.

The Unionist Movement is a faction of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP).  Its main point of contention is the decision of leader Mohamed Osman Al-Mirghani to join a coalition government led by ruling National Congress Party (NCP).  This move came after the independence of South Sudan in July 2011.

The Unionist Movement is now also a member of the opposition alliance National Consensus Forces (NCF) and in October 2012 signed a memorandum of understanding with the rebel alliance of the Sudanese Revolutionary Front (SRF).

Armed groups

SRF – the Sudan Revolutionary Forces

Made up of the following major armed groups (see below) opposing the government in key conflict zones of Darfur, Kordofan and Blue Nile. On 7^th August 2011, the signing of a formal alliance between SLA-MM, SLA-AW, and SPLM-North under the banner of the SRF took place. The parties pledged to join militarily and politically to work to overthrow the National Congress Party and establish a secular, liberal state. The Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) initially withdrew at the last moment over the issue of a secular state. They have since joined the SRF.

SPLM-N – Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army – North (in South Kordofan and Blue Nile)

The SPLM-N describes itself as "a Sudanese national movement that seeks to change the policies of the centre in Khartoum and to build a new centre for the benefit of all Sudanese people regardless of their religion, gender or ethnicity background". It was founded in 2011 after the secession of South Sudan left many on the border without political and military support. It is a banned political and military party made up of former SPLM leadership including Malik Agar (from Blue Nile), Yasir Arman (northern Sudanese) as well as former Deputy Governor of South Kordofan Abdel-Aziz al-Hilu.

JEM – Justice and Equality Movement (Darfur)

The Justice and Equality Movement has been viewed by some as the armed wing of the Islamist Popular Congress Party led by Hassan al-Turabi. This is because of a long history of many of its members as followers of Sheikh Hassan Al Turabi. Though they had denied any ongoing affiliation with al-Turabi, his revolutionary radicalism has been palpable particularly during the leadership of Khalil Ibrahim. The party membership represents mainly the Kobe Zaghawa group, of which only a small minority reside in North-Eastern Darfur, the rest in Chad. Despite this and unlike the SLA (see below), JEM has designs on national action rather than focusing on the regional like the SLA (see below).  Their fight for power in Khartoum has seen them attempt to take over the capital in 2008.

More disciplined than other rebel groups JEM has however also suffered from several splits, largely on ethnic lines.  After capitalising on its links with Chad and its ethnic link with Chadian President Deby, himself a Kobe Zaghawa, JEM became a powerful player. Seeking to undercut the influence of JEM internally and across the border, the Government of Sudan made peace with Deby thereby restricting the materiel support to JEM. Khalil was subsequently expelled to Libya where he was allegedly kept under house arrest.  That did not stop rumours circulating that he was working as a mercenary for Gaddafi given the latter propensity for using African mercenaries.  In 2011, after Gadaffi fell, Khalil returned to Sudan and was killed by an airstrike that same year.  His brother Jibril Ibrahim is the current leader.

SLA-AW – Sudan Liberation Army – Abdel Wahid (Darfur)

From its inception in 2001 the two tribes of the SLA (Fur and Zaghawa) had markedly different agendas. The Fur leaders of the SLA were drawn to John Garang and his SPLM party’s vision of a ‘New Sudan’ and saw the target of their rebellion essentially as the government. For the Zaghawa the struggle was much more local, organising against the Arab militias with whom they competed with in the camel trade.

In mid-2004 the Zaghawa attacked the Fur heartland of Jebel Marra. Since then, and especially since the signing of 2006’s Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA), the movement has split into a dozen factions, largely along tribal lines. All attempts to reunite it have failed.

Abdul Wahid Mohamed al Nur, the original chairman of the SLA, is increasingly contested by his commanders and has seen his legitimacy wane.  This is largely due to his long absences abroad and what is seen as an erratic style of leadership. His main home abroad has been Paris but since his refusal to join the peace talks in Qatar in 2011 he has gotten less support from the French. Abdul-Wahid has been decreasing his support to his commanders in the field and refusing to meet with high-level visitors, even those from his own tribe. Within the party and amongst his colleagues in the SRF he has therefore lost credibility and reputation. But without a viable alternative to his leadership the group has been unable to regain support.

SLA-MM – Sudan Liberation Army – Minni Minawi (Darfur)

This branch is headed by Minni Minawi whose faction split after a power struggle based mainly on ethnic lines, affecting the credibility and strength of both resulting factions. By 2011 SLA-MM and SLA-AW — both under attack by government troops and air force — were said to desire a new era of cooperation fuelled by the new conflict between the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North and the Government of Sudan.  This led to the formation of a coalition under the SRF umbrella.

Despite having no military experience, Minawi, was successful in leading the movement’s main military forces before the split. In May 2006 he was one of few rebel leaders who signed the Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA) with the government.  This allowed him to become senior assistant to President Bashir and chairman of the Transitional Darfur Regional Authority (TDRA). The positions turned out to be symbolic and his power negligible. Further his positions were not renewed after the 2010 elections, which many saw primarily as a vehicle to legitimise Bashir’s rule.  At the end of that same year Minawi moved from Khartoum to Juba, declaring himself once more in rebellion and the DPA void.