Addis Ababa Declaration between the Coordination Body of the Democratic Civil Forces (Taqaddum) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF)

STPT is distributing this agreement between Taqaddum and the RSF for public information. The content is that which was agreed by the parties. It should not be construed as representing STPT’s complete views on any of the points in the document.

January 2, 2024

Preamble

Believing that the April 15 war is the most recent in a series of failed attempts to reverse the path of December Revolution, and that it is a reflection and culmination of an ongoing failure to formulate adequate consensus on a national renaissance project that would move the Sudanese from political and social division to unity, from economic and security deterioration to development and stability;

In recognition of the high human cost of the war, its scourges and torments; the horrific violations committed against civilians, including killing, plundering, looting, assault, and destruction of infrastructure; the deepening of social and regional divisions, which harm our country and threaten the nation’s survival and cohesion and severely affect its ability to address the root causes of wars and conflicts in Sudan;

Acknowledging that communication and political dialogue between all civil forces who truly believe in democratic transformation, and the leaders of the warring military forces, is inevitable to stop the war, tackle its devastating impact, realize peace, and restore the path of democratic transformation;

We, in Taqaddum and the RSF, have determined to end this war and make it the last war in Sudan; and to complete and deepen the course of December Revolution, by achieving the well-deserved democratic civil rule, equal citizenship, just distribution of power and wealth, economic prosperity, solid peace, and sustainable solutions to Sudan’s crises.

We have agreed on the following:

First: Issues of ending hostilities, delivery of humanitarian aid, and protection of civilians:

1. RSF expresses its readiness to immediately and unconditionally cease hostilities through direct negotiations with the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF).  Taqaddum is working towards reaching the commitment to the same procedures by SAF with the aim of achieving a cessation of hostilities agreement binding on both parties and implemented under national, regional and international oversight that verifies commitment to the cessation of hostilities and protection of civilians on the ground.
2. The RSF agreed, at the request of Taqaddam, and as a gesture of good faith, to release 451 prisoners of war through the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
3. The RSF have pledged to open safe corridors in the areas under their control for humanitarian aid and to provide the necessary guarantees to facilitate the work of humanitarian organizations and protect relief workers.
4. Create an enabling atmosphere for the return of citizens to their homes in the areas affected by war (Khartoum, Darfur, Kordofan, and Gezira), by providing security through the deployment of police forces in civilian areas, and reopening service and production facilities.
5. Establish civil administration, with the consensus of the populations affected by war, that ensures return to normal and provides for basic civilian needs.
6. Form the National Committee for the Protection of Civilians from national figures supportive of ending the war. It shall undertake monitoring of civilian returns to their homes, ensure the operation of service and production facilities, and work to mobilize internal and external resources to provide the humanitarian needs to civilians.
7. Fully cooperate with the Fact-finding Mission of the UN Human Rights Council to ensure the truth is revealed, remedy is provided to victims and hold perpetrators accountable.
8. Form a credible, independent national committee to monitor all violations across Sudan and identify the perpetrators in a way that ensures accountability.
9. Form a credible committee to uncover the facts about who started the war.

Second: Issues of ending the war and re-establishing the Sudanese state

After an extensive discussion, both parties agreed that ending the war and building sustainable peace must be based on the following foundations:

1. The unity of Sudan’s people and territory and its sovereignty over its land and resources.
2. Equal citizenship is the basis of constitutional rights and duties and the unity of Sudan is based on the recognition and respect of Sudanese diversity and pluralism.
3. The government in Sudan shall be federal, civil and democratic, in which people choose who will rule them through free and fair elections and in appropriate political, security and constitutional conditions.
4. The security sector is one of the important pillars of the modern state. Therefore, comprehensive programs must be implemented to rebuild the security sector in accordance with internationally recognized standards. Such programs shall begin by interacting positively with existing institutions, provided that they lead to a single professional and national army that reflects all Sudanese according to the population census. The army shall be subject to civil authority and be aware of its duties and tasks in accordance with the constitution, to put an end to the phenomenon of multiple armies (SAF, RSF, armed movements and militias) that operate outside the framework of a single national professional army. These programs shall ensure the exit of the security system (SAF, RSF, police and Intelligence Service) from political and economic activity and their acceptance of the above-mentioned principles, and pledge to support the democratic civil transition processes and work to sustain and stabilize the democratic system. They shall provide the guarantees required for the establishment of a government that work to complete the tasks of transition; constitutional and political establishment; undertake administrative, financial and economic reforms, and tackle the impact the war and rebuild the country.
5. Dismantle the June 30 regime in civil and military state institutions.
6. Launch a comprehensive transitional justice process that reveals the crimes, brings justice to victims, provides reparations, and holds perpetrators accountable to end impunity. A campaign to combat hate speech and achieve national recovery shall be designed and implemented.
7. The state must be non-aligned, stand at the same distance from religions, identities and cultures, and recognize diversity and pluralism, and express all its components fairly.
8. Rebuild the state’s civil institutions to ensure efficiency, professionalism, national inclusivity, and equal opportunities among all Sudanese in accordance with the population census with positive discrimination. Political reform shall be carried out to ensure democratic civil institutions, particularly political institutions.

Based on the above, the two parties agreed to the following:

1. The draft road map and declaration of principles constitute a good basis for the political process that ends the war and establishes the Sudanese state.
2. Form a joint committee to end the war, build sustainable peace, and follow up on the implementation of what was agreed upon in this declaration.
3. Ensure civilian leadership of the political process, with a commitment to broad participation that excludes only the National Congress Party (NCP)/Islamic Movement and their front organizations, and the need to represent the civilians in the upcoming Djibouti meeting, arranged by the IGAD between the leaders of RSF and the SAF and involve civilians in all arrangements designed to end the war.
4. The understandings contained in this declaration will be presented by Taqaddum to SAF leadership to form a basis for reaching a peaceful solution that ends the war.

Third: Mechanisms:

1. The National Committee for the Protection of Civilians is responsible for monitoring the return of citizens to their homes, ensuring the operation of markets, hospitals, and service facilities, and determining safe transit routes for humanitarian aid and ensure its delivery.
2. The Joint Committee to reach an end to the war, build sustainable peace, and follow up on the implementation of this declaration.
3. The International-National Commission to investigate who started the war.
4. The Independent-National Committee to monitor all violations across Sudan and identify perpetrators in a way that ensures their accountability.

General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, RSF

Dr. Abdullah Hamdok, Taqaddum