Former Prime Minister Hamdok Says Military Gains Will Not End Sudan’s War

Sudan’s former PM Abdalla Hamdok criticized military efforts to end the civil war, asserting that victories in Khartoum won’t lead to peace. He emphasizes the need for addressing root causes and calls for an end to foreign arming of both sides. The humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate, with millions displaced and high casualty rates.

Sudan’s former Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok has expressed serious doubts about the ongoing military efforts to resolve the conflict in Sudan, branding the recent military victories, particularly in Khartoum, as paltry attempts to create a new government. During an interview amidst the Mo Ibrahim Foundation’s governance conference in Morocco, Hamdok strongly indicated that, no matter the shifts in military control, these changes would not lead to an end to the civil war that has persisted for two harrowing years.

Hamdok pointed out that the situation has resulted in an enormous humanitarian crisis, with numerous lives lost and millions displaced. He said that capturing or losing control of Khartoum ultimately does not matter. “Whether Khartoum is captured or not captured, it’s irrelevant. There is no military solution to this,” he emphasized. The former prime minister previously served as Sudan’s first civilian leader after years of military rule, but he resigned in January 2022 following a coup.

The conflict, which has seen battles between Sudan’s army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), is marked by allegations of war crimes on both sides. The RSF, known for its roots in the Janjaweed militia in Darfur, faces accusations of committing genocidal acts, while the army has been accused of using chemical weapons against civilians. The results have been catastrophic, with estimates of over 24,000 fatalities due to the fighting.

Despite the military’s recent advances in retaking parts of Khartoum and surrounding areas, Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan announced the appointment of a new prime minister to establish a new government. However, Hamdok believes this is futile as the violence continues. “Any attempt at creating a government in Sudan today is fake. It is irrelevant,” he remarked, underlining that any sustainable peace must tackle the fundamental causes of the conflict.

Hamdok, who now leads a civilian coalition from abroad, criticized the notion of reconstruction taking place in a nation still throbbing in conflict. According to him, negotiations must begin with a credible ceasefire and a transformation back to democratic civilian governance. He pointed out the critical role of addressing issues of social inequality and the influence of various identity groups, as well as the complex relationship between religion and state.

Amid the complexities of the war, Hamdok also pointed to the role of foreign powers in intensifying violence, citing arms supplies to both sides. His coalition has been vocal about the atrocities committed by the army and RSF alike, but he refrained from directly accusing the United Arab Emirates of arms distribution to the RSF, even as scrutiny increases on that front. In his words, he called for all arms supplies to cease across the conflict, advising that pinpointing one country while ignoring others only serves to skew the narrative.

In summary, Abdalla Hamdok, Sudan’s former prime minister, has rejected recent military advancements as insufficient to bring about peace in the ongoing civil war. He insists that a genuine resolution must address the underlying causes of the conflict rather than rely on military victories or superficial governmental changes. With humanitarian struggles deepening, and foreign involvement complicating matters further, the path to stability appears fraught with challenges requiring a thoughtful, inclusive approach to governance.

Original Source: apnews.com