Sudanese–Sudanese Dialogue: Can Partial Consensus Pave the Road to Full Unity, or Is Immediate Full Agreement the Only True Path?

Opinion

 

Eng. M. Shatir Alamin
Sudan’s experience tells us that ignoring the fundamentals of the state leads to collapse. Today, the fundamental reality is clear: the Sudanese Armed Forces and the existing government bear the burden of defending national sovereignty and administering the state under fire. Accordingly, any genuine national dialogue must begin from this established fact.
1. The Reference Point for Dialogue: The Post-War Reality
Full consensus:
The dialogue should begin from the fundamentals of the state: its unity, sovereignty and national army. There can be no return to formulas that have already failed and plunged us into a vicious cycle.
Partial consensus:
An urgent declaration of principles should affirm that Sudan’s supreme national interests take precedence over all else, and that the Armed Forces are the guarantor of the unity of the state until the transition is completed.
2. Legitimacy of Authority: Supporting the Current Government
The current government bears responsibility for the war effort, humanitarian relief and the administration of the state. Creating a constitutional vacuum at this stage would amount to betraying the citizen.
Full consensus: Full support for the existing government as a wartime and transitional government, with broader participation by national experts at a later stage.
Partial consensus: Agreement on a national programme of action for the government: ending the aggression, providing relief and restoring normal life. The question of broadening participation can be addressed once security has been restored.
3. Governance and the Regions: Unity Under Responsible Decentralisation
Any discussion of the system of government must begin by affirming Sudan’s unity.
Partial consensus: Urgent administration of war-affected regions through governors and the federal government, with the final restructuring of the system postponed until after the rebellion has been defeated.
Secondly: Security First, Then We Discuss the Rest
4. The Army: Guarantor of the Transition
The Armed Forces are a national institution. Their struggle today is the Battle for Dignity, fought to protect the land and the citizen.
Full consensus: Affirm the national role of the army as guarantor of the transition, together with a professional reform programme to be implemented after the war.
Partial consensus: A national consensus on supporting the army now, while postponing any discussion of its restructuring until after victory, so that the army is not stabbed in the back.
5. Justice: Redress for Victims and Accountability for the Rebels
Full consensus: Comprehensive justice beginning with the prosecution of rebel leaders and anyone involved in killing and displacing civilians, together with compensation for displaced people.
Partial consensus: Immediate documentation of current war crimes, paving the way for fair trials once security has been restored.
6. The Economy: Public Funds Under State Control
The war’s continuation has exposed the dangers of the parallel economy.
Full consensus: Bringing all companies and institutions under the authority of the Ministry of Finance in order to finance the Battle for Dignity and reconstruction.
Partial consensus: Immediate measures to bring strategic revenues under state control to finance the war effort and humanitarian relief.
Thirdly: Responsible National Participation
7. The Dialogue Table: Patriots Only
Full consensus: Invite all national forces that reject the rebellion, believe in Sudan’s unity and support the role of the army.
Partial consensus: Begin with a broad national front of political and community forces that support the state, then open the door to those who commit to the nation’s fundamental principles and disavow support for militias.
8. The Political Parties File: No Partnership with Those Who Betrayed the State
Accountability is individual, but there should be no place for those who legitimised the rebellion or stood with it.
Partial consensus: Reach agreement with the effective national forces now, while postponing discussion of participation by parties that have lost credibility until after the elections.
Fourthly: The Human Being Comes First During War
9. Setting Priorities: End the Aggression, Then Rebuild
Full consensus: Work simultaneously on the military, political and service fronts.
Partial consensus: The absolute priority is to support the army in ending the rebellion, followed by opening humanitarian corridors, and then expanding political dialogue.
10. The Displaced and Refugees: A Dignified Return After Victory
More than 10 million people have been displaced.
Full consensus: A national reconstruction and compensation plan should begin as soon as areas are liberated.
Partial consensus: An urgent relief programme and safe shelter under state supervision, paving the way for voluntary return once villages and towns have been cleared.
11. The Livelihood Economy: Strengthening the Home Front
Full consensus: A comprehensive reform programme after the war.
Partial consensus: An urgent package addressing bread, medicine and fuel, supported by the state and the current government, to ensure the resilience of the citizenry.
Fifthly: Sovereignty and the National Narrative
12. The External Role: Facilitation, Not Trusteeship
Full consensus: Reject any interference in Sudan’s internal affairs.
Partial consensus: Accept humanitarian and political support from brotherly and friendly states, provided that Sudan’s sovereignty is respected and the choices of its government are supported.
13. The Media: A United Front
Full consensus: A national media charter criminalising hate speech and support for militias.
Partial consensus: An immediate commitment by all national media platforms to support the Armed Forces and refrain from broadcasting rumours that serve the enemy.
Conclusion: Which Preserves the Nation — Full or Partial Consensus?
Yet one principle remains beyond dispute:
No state can exist without an army, and no army without a state.
Ready-made full consensus: This first requires a military resolution of the conflict. A stable constitution cannot be built while the bullets are still flying.
Partial consensus leading to full consensus is the realistic option: support the current government and the Armed Forces, unify the domestic front, provide relief to citizens, and then move to a broad-based political table after victory.
History will not ask us about slogans. It will ask us:
Did you stand with your state and your army in its hour of danger?
The answer must be:
Yes.
And that is where we begin.

Shortlink: https://sudanhorizon.com/?p=17591