Towards a National Consensus Project (2)

Professor Ahmed Magzoub Ahmed
In the first episode, we explored the necessity of establishing a Sudanese national consensus project. This second episode outlines the principles that should form the basis of such a project, proposed as a charter.
The Charter
We, the undersigned, agree to establish a united national front that prioritises the nation’s values and beliefs, works to protect and defend it, achieves complete independence, preserves its resources, promotes its development, and builds its social fabric to ensure the welfare of its citizens.
This is to be realised through adherence to the following principles:
Unity and Sovereignty: Work toward Sudan’s unity, security, and safety of its citizens, achieving intellectual, cultural, political, and economic independence through all necessary means.
Protection of Freedoms: Safeguard public freedoms, including thought, organisation, and political activities, provided these do not infringe on others’ freedoms or national security.
Judicial Independence: Ensure an independent judiciary and prosecution service. Establish a Higher Judicial Council comprised of experts of integrity and competence to oversee judicial administration, funding, and professional independence.
Constitutional Court: Form a Constitutional Court with qualified experts to adjudicate constitutional disputes.
Transitional Constitution: Implement a transitional constitution informed by past constitutional experiences. Until a new framework is finalised, the 2005 constitution should be adopted with amendments reflecting current realities.
Sharia as a Legal Framework: Use Islamic Sharia as a legislative reference, as endorsed by the people’s majority, with provisions for personal status laws respecting minority communities.
Peaceful Power Transition: Adopt elections as the sole mechanism for power transition, with governance entrusted to those chosen by the majority.
Federal Governance: Implement a federal system that empowers states with legislative, administrative, and service delivery authority while ensuring equitable resource allocation.
Transitional Period: Limit the transitional period to 24 months, with a technocratic, non-partisan government formed by a committee elected at the foundational meeting for the charter’s approval.
Fair Resource Distribution: Ensure a balanced allocation of resources among all levels of government while safeguarding the central government’s functionality and preserving local interests.
Peacebuilding: Commit to achieving peace nationwide by addressing past grievances and ensuring justice while preventing tribal exploitation to threaten national security.
National Loyalty: Prevent external dependence or influence in internal affairs by enforcing transparency in party funding to avoid foreign agendas.
Civic and Tribal Roles: Recognise the societal roles of tribal, religious, and Sufi organisations in promoting unity, social values, and development while preventing their exploitation for divisive agendas.
Foreign Relations: Establish foreign relations based on mutual respect, cooperation, and non-interference in domestic affairs.
Fair Economic System: Promote a fair economic system that supports individual ownership, balances societal needs, and encourages productivity and sustainability.
Civil Service Integrity: Ensure the civil service is merit-based, transparent, and politically neutral, overseen by an independent Civil Service Commission.
Cultural and Creative Development: Support sports, arts, and cultural initiatives that reflect Sudan’s diversity and creativity.
Public Health: Guarantee healthcare access for all and adopt policies to ensure sustainable public health services.
Water Security: Provide sufficient clean water for all citizens and regulate livestock grazing to balance farmers’ and herders’ rights.
Scientific Research: Foster research and technological development as pillars of national progress, with collaborative efforts between society and government.
Women and Children: Protect the rights of women and children, ensuring women’s participation in all spheres and fostering healthy childhood development.
Youth Empowerment: Recognise youth as the foundation of reform and development. Invest in their education, economic empowerment, and social integration, including marriage facilitation.
Foundational Council: The signatories of this charter will serve as an electoral college to form a council of no more than 100 members tasked with:
Establishing an electoral commission.
Drafting a constitution to be approved by at least 75% of the population through a referendum.
Overseeing the establishment of executive and other governance structures based on the new constitution.
Conclusion
This proposed charter provides a roadmap for uniting Sudan into a cohesive national front to overcome the challenges posed by war and its aftermath. It aims to rebuild infrastructure, stabilise the economy, and strengthen the social fabric.
The charter is open to feedback and contributions from all concerned Sudanese citizens, intellectuals, and policymakers. It is a shared vision intended to lay the foundation for a united and prosperous post-war Sudan.