The path to ending Sudan's destructive war starts with humility

Jeddah talks end in stalemate

On 22 June, Molly Phee, the US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, announced the adjournment of the Jeddah talks platform due to its failure in compelling the two parties to abide by the agreed truce agreements. The absence of civilian presence during the negotiations had a noticeable impact on the design of these agreements.

While the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) saw the truces as an opportunity to cease fighting with the army, they continued to occupy homes and hospitals and loot civilians without considering it a violation of the truce as long as they did not clash with the army.

In her statement, Phee acknowledged that the negotiation format did not achieve the desired success, a sentiment that many have echoed since the beginning of the talks initiated by US-Saudi mediation.

The intention was to expedite the cessation of hostilities, but it inadvertently fuelled the authoritarian ambitions of the warring parties, who sought to achieve their goals at the negotiating table that they were unable to accomplish on the ground.

Read more: The war in Sudan is really a battle over spoils

The RSF attempted to exploit the Jeddah platform to reintegrate themselves into the pre-war political process, as it guaranteed their presence, independence, and significant political and economic influence.

This led them to continue fighting, hoping to improve their negotiating position and create conditions for their return to the situation before 15 April when the current armed conflict erupted, based on implicit promises made during the Jeddah talks.

Army's weakness exposed

The approach of the Sudanese army towards the Jeddah negotiations can be seen as a diplomatic gesture towards Saudi Arabia and the United States. It is also possible that it had no alternative but to engage in negotiations, considering the weakness of its forces, which were constantly retreating and unable to decisively defeat the RSF, which had once been a part of them until a few years ago.

Indeed, the Sudanese army has demonstrated throughout the course of this war that it not only requires reform but a complete revamp to effectively function.

Indeed, the three-decade rule of the Muslim Brotherhood in Sudan, which relied on foreign militias such as the Popular Defence Forces, Friendly Forces, and the Janjaweed (later transforming into the Rapid Support Forces), has significantly weakened the official fighting forces of the Sudanese army.

This weakness is evident in the army's inability to effectively provide infantry forces to confront adversaries in urban warfare. The infiltration of Islamists into the army ranks during their rule politicised the institution and led to a multitude of decision-making centres within it. This further contributed to the erosion of the army's effectiveness.

Throughout the three decades of al-Bashir's rule, the military and security apparatus were primarily focused on protecting the regime rather than upholding professionalism and effectiveness within the army. This diversion of priorities hindered the army's development and undermined its capabilities.

The war with the RSF has exposed the vulnerabilities of the Sudanese army. Its leaders have attempted to mask behind superficial displays of military prowess, such as medals, uniforms, and arrogant speeches.

Opportunistic alliances and the coup against civilians with differing perspectives have further illustrated the problematic nature of the military leadership during this period.

RSF's reputation goes from bad to worse

Indeed, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have reinforced the negative image that has been associated with them since their inception. Their continued misconduct has made it clear that it can never be integrated or accepted within the normal Sudanese state apparatus if Sudan aims to become a safe and stable country.

Human rights activists have extensively documented the violations and crimes committed by the RSF, leading to accusations that these forces operate as a "fascist system" that engages in killing, looting, rape, and the destruction of Sudan and its people.

The RSF does not represent the marginalised or vulnerable groups in Sudan. Instead, it primarily originated as a tool for suppressing and abusing marginalised populations.

Videos and recordings circulated by human rights activists have shown RSF members celebrating occupying homes of Khartoum residents, further highlighting their destructive mindset.

Addressing the people's greviances

This mentality does not align with the aspirations of the Sudanese marginalised population. Instead, it perpetuates the suffering that the rural population has endured for many years.

Once again, they find themselves victims of a destructive machine that has contributed to their oppression and destruction. Moreover, this discourse does not represent the nomadic Arab tribes in Darfur, as many community leaders from these tribes have expressed clear positions against the war and the RSF.

It is evident that such a system has no place in shaping a future of stability, let alone democracy, in Sudan.

The path to stability and progress lies in addressing the grievances of marginalised communities, ensuring accountability for human rights violations, and working towards a comprehensive and inclusive political solution that respects the rights and dignity of all Sudanese people.

It is important to recognise that all sides involved in the war in Sudan bear responsibility for the ongoing conflict, and ending the war should involve holding all parties accountable for their actions.

Opportunity to reconfigure peace process

The cessation of the Jeddah negotiations provides an opportunity to reconfigure the peace process and established a solid foundation to build upon with the primary goal of effectively stopping the war.

The Sudanese revolution brought forth a powerful slogan regarding the need to demilitarise and disband groups like the Janjaweed, emphasising the right direction for peace in Sudan: "The military goes to the barracks, and the Janjaweed disbands."

A political process cannot be effectively designed without clearly defining the desired goals. The revolutionary slogan represents the appropriate goal upon which the political process should be built. The war, now entering its third month, has proven that a military solution is not viable. Both sides would be foolish not to realise this fact by now.

The Sudanese army has been unable to decisively resolve the conflict or defeat the RSF. Likewise, there is no realistic scenario in which the RSF can gain complete control over Sudan and its governance, even if Khartoum is destroyed. The country is much larger than the forces led by the Dagalo family and their followers.

Therefore, it is in the best interest of the Sudanese people and their homeland for both sides to acknowledge this reality and put an end to this destructive spiral. There is no logical scenario in which the RSF can return to normal political practice in the country.

The December 2018 revolution closed the door to the acceptance of armed groups in Sudanese politics forever. The Sudanese people will not accept a regression, despite some politicians' complete disregard for the framework agreement.

To find a solution to this devastating war, sacrifices and concessions must be made to halt the fighting, prevent further loss of Sudanese lives, and halt the destruction of the country.

Possible solutions

In this context, a possible solution could involve offering a safe exit from the country for RSF leader Mohamad Hamdan Dagalo, his deputy (who happens to be his brother Abd al-Rahim), and their close circle in the RSF leadership, in exchange for ending the fighting and destruction in Sudan.

Read more: Hemedti: From camel trader to second most powerful man in Sudan

However, this should be accompanied by the disbandment of the RSF as an institution and the demobilisation of its soldiers, with efforts made to reintegrate them naturally into their communities.

Simultaneously, abolishing the RSF should be accompanied by a comprehensive reform process within the Sudanese army. The first step in this reform should involve purging the army of politicised elements, particularly Islamists who contributed to igniting the war.

It is crucial to establish a professional and apolitical military institution that serves the interests of the Sudanese people and the stability of the country.

Indeed, restoring the Sudanese army to its natural role and focusing on its development and combat doctrine is a crucial step. The army should relinquish all extraneous files and responsibilities that have distracted it from its primary duty, leading to its current state of disarray.

Following this, civil political forces with a genuine interest in Sudan's future must initiate a comprehensive national dialogue. This dialogue should aim to reach an agreement on a national project for rebuilding the country and reestablishing democracy during a transitional period inspired by the goals and aspirations of the December revolution.

It is important for these forces to approach the dialogue with humility and recognise that monopolising the revolution or the state by certain individuals or organisations has contributed to political tensions in the past. However, it is equally important to remember that not all individuals or organisations played a destructive role.

The delay in finding a solution has only increased the pressure of international trials and prosecutions for war crimes and violations, which continue to be committed. The ongoing war exposes the weaknesses of the army and puts strain on the already fragile state apparatus, which still manages to provide some necessary services to the citizens caught in the midst of the war.

While this proposal may be a bitter pill to swallow, if it is adopted by influential international and regional powers that have leverage over both sides of the conflict, they can exert pressure to compel acceptance.

It represents an attempt to salvage the future and what remains of the country before it is consumed by the flames of destruction. Each Sudanese life is precious and sparing it from being wasted in the midst of this senseless war is of utmost importance.