Talking to Sudanhorizon: Al-Tijani Sisi Warns of Incomplete Legitimacy
Cairo – Sudanhorizon – Sabah Mousa
Dr Al-Tijani Sisi, head of the National Movement Forces, affirmed that the success of Sudanese dialogue requires the creation of a conducive environment and the fulfilment of a set of basic prerequisites before it can begin.
In a statement to the news website Sudanhorizon, Sisi said the dialogue must be inclusive, stressing the need to address the existing crisis of trust among Sudanese political actors, particularly between the national political forces and the “Sumoud” group. He emphasised that any dialogue not preceded by confidence-building among the parties is unlikely to succeed. He added that it is difficult to speak of convening dialogue. At the same time, the war and armed confrontations continue, noting that the current phase requires preparatory steps, including organising workshops to define participation criteria and participants, setting the dialogue agenda, forming a national committee to manage it, and clarifying the role of the regional and international communities.
Sisi explained that while he believes in the importance of the regional and international role, it should be limited to facilitating dialogue. He pointed out that the proliferation of regional and international initiatives and platforms has become a real threat to the dialogue process, calling for the establishment of a unified regional and international umbrella to facilitate Sudanese dialogue. He added that, following the rebellion of the Rapid Support Forces militia, the Sudanese arena has witnessed sharp polarisation and a rise in hate speech, which threatens the country’s unity. He stressed that this situation calls for a Sudanese consensus, achieved through a comprehensive national dialogue, on the foundations necessary to preserve Sudan’s unity.
Regarding the electoral process, Sisi stated that holding elections while the war continues is not feasible, explaining that this would result in elections being conducted in some areas but not others, leading to what he described as “incomplete legitimacy”. He added that such legitimacy would remain deficient without the participation of all constituencies, particularly in Darfur and parts of Kordofan, where electoral processes would remain suspended.
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