DWAG Communication – Page 3 – Darfur Women Action Group

DWAG Stands in Solidarity with Ukraine

Darfur Women Action Group (DWAG) writes to express concern about the unjust Russian invasion of Ukraine and to extend solidarity and support to Ukrainians. We believe that Ukrainians have the right to live in peace. The attack on Ukraine is an early warning sign for genocide and mass atrocities that the international community must take seriously.

In particular, we stand in solidarity with Ukrainian women and children who will bear the harshest effects of the war. The devastating effects of this war are creating the worst humanitarian crisis in Europe in recent history. Women and children are needing basic necessities and as many as 500,000 innocent people are dispersing to neighboring countries such as Hungary, Poland, Moldova, and Slovakia. According to the United Nations, this refugee crisis is likely to lead to 5 million people displaced. DWAG calls on the international community to use an effective approach and urge parties to deescalate the crises, uphold human rights, and respect all international humanitarian laws.

We equally urge the neighboring countries to welcome Ukrainian refugees, particularly women and children, and to stand in solidarity with all Ukrainians who are suffering. We also urge them to provide protection for both Ukrainians and foreign citizens in Ukraine who have been forced to leave their homes. We ask our supporters to speak up for and stand in solidarity with the people of Ukraine and call for a peaceful resolution of the situation. It’s imperative to remind Russia that any dispute between nations must not take the form of military intervention or the use of force, but rather the use of negotiation and existing peaceful mechanisms.

You can also use hashtags such as #solidarity4Ukraine to speak up for the women of Ukraine and all those who are suffering.

Critical Humanitarian Crisis in Darfur as a Direct Result of the Coup

The government in Khartoum and those responsible must be held accountable

Darfur Women Action Group (DWAG) is alarmed by the reports of the looting of various former UN agencies’ compounds in El Fasher, North Darfur. The looting started on December 24-25 and has increased the region’s instability, as the vacuum created by the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur’s (UNAMID) withdrawal at the end of 2020 created a fragile foundation for peace and security throughout Darfur.

In early January, a large group of army soldiers, paramilitaries of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), police officers, and former rebel combatants raided UNAMID’s former headquarters of its remaining supplies and the current most extensive United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) warehouse in Darfur. This included the theft of four-wheel-drive vehicles, lorries, equipment, food items, and various other devices that DWAG fears will be used against the people of Sudan in their continued peaceful protests against the military junta and its coup led on October 25. This has caused an unprecedented threat and level of fear among UN agencies and international and national NGOs and has forced most to suspend their critical operations that provide lifesaving assistance for thousands of Darfuris, including internally-displaced people (IDPs) in the area.

In response, on December 31, the WFP suspended its operations after looting started on December 29 in all three of its facilities in the region. The WFP says the suspension could affect close to two million people. This is alarming, as an estimated 10.9 million people are food insecure in Sudan and in need of livelihood assistance.

The most recent incident began on Saturday, February 5 when an armed group attacked the former UNAMID headquarters in El Fasher, North Darfur. According to a military statement, Major General Fadhil El Malik of the Sudanese coalition forces and Lieutenant Muhammad Ezeldin of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) were killed in the armed conflict. The North Darfur Security Committee has begun an investigation into the incident. General Nimr Abdelrahman, the Governor of North Darfur, has directed all armed struggle movement forces to leave the city and move to predetermined assembly points within 72 hours.

We at DWAG are dismayed by the new humanitarian crisis emerging due to the looting of these sites and how it will continue disrupting the lives of Darfuris. Attacking, looting, and burning UN agencies’ properties and interfering in other humanitarian operations constitutes a grave violation of international human rights and humanitarian law. Attacks against humanitarian agencies have been used to deepen the suffering of the genocide victims still living in camps, as their lives and livelihood have depended on humanitarian assistance for two decades. The resurgence of these tactics, which were also used by the Bashir regime, is causing IDPs to face further starvation, disease, and lack of lifesaving services.

Those on the ground believe that the looting, attacks and ensuing instability have occurred because of the coup d’etat. The continued use of starvation as a weapon of war in the longstanding crisis in Darfur has prolonged the suffering of the people of Darfur and is often ignored by the international community. Attacks on civilians in Darfur and across Sudan continue, and these recent incidents have occurred because of the failure of the international community to impose accountability measures on those responsible. The people of Darfur have suffered far too long, and the international community must pay attention to their suffering and heed their calls for peace, justice, and accountability in both this immediate crisis and the long term.

Therefore, DWAG calls upon the international community, the member states of the United Nations Security Council, particularly the United States government, to impose the following consequences on the military junta for these violations of international humanitarian law and the violence they have perpetrated since the end of October:

● Track, seize, and restore the looted materials immediately so that the Sudanese armed forces cannot use them against the people of Sudan.

● Impose targeted sanctions that freeze the assets of Sudanese military leaders and help the people of Sudan restore the stolen public funds accumulated by the military juntas to be redistributed for the benefit of the Sudanese people.

● Impose a travel ban on the Sudanese military generals responsible for orchestrating the coup, attacking civilians, and looting humanitarian organizations’ and UN agencies’ assets.

Congressional Campaign: Sample Letter and Phone Script

Sample Letter

Dear (Representative xxx or Senator Name),

My name is (Name), and I am from (State/District). I am extremely concerned about the situation in Sudan and am writing to you in solidarity with Darfur Women Action Group to ask for your help to urge the Biden administration to hold the military accountable and pressure the Sudanese government to immediately restore to the civilian-led democratic transition. On October 25, 2021, military forces led by Lieutenant General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan staged a coup and deposed Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok from power, detained government officials and activists— at least of which 200 remain in detention. The military forces proceeded to dissolve the transitional government. When the people protested, rejecting the coup, they were met with excessive force. As of December 2, at least 43 individuals have died as a result of this force. These numbers will continue to rise if the Sudanese military remains in power. The military has also imposed an internet and telecommunications blockade to prevent the Sudanese people from telling their story to the international community. Our fear is that this situation — if left unaddressed — would descend into a catastrophic crisis, and more people will lose their lives.

Despite adversity, the Sudanese people continue to rise up, while peacefully resisting the military coup. Prior to the military coup, millions of Sudanese people took to the streets to protest the tensions between the transitional government and its military wing and called for a peaceful transition.

The situation in Sudan needs to put accountability first. The lack of accountability and failure to transfer al-Bashir to the International Criminal Court to put on trial for his crimes has led Lt. General al-Burhan to believe that he can disregard the demands of the people and dismantle the democratic transition without consequences. For this, it is imperative that the United States takes an atrocity prevention approach emphasizing accountability to resolve the current crisis. As a member of the UN Security Council, the United States is also obligated to support the immediate transfer of the three ICC indictees to the Hague, as these cases were referred to the Court through the unanimous decision on the UN Security Council Resolution 1593.

Since the Sudanese people successfully deposed Omar al-Bashir after years of corrupt and genocidal governance, the Sudanese people have been fighting for their freedom and transparent, democratic rule. For this reason, we urge the (Senate Foreign Relations Committee/ House Foreign Affairs Committee ) to urge the Biden Adminstration to take the following actions:

a) Dispatch a high-level official to Sudan to gather factual information and mediate the tensions.
b) Call for an urgent United Nations Security Council meeting to rally multilateral action against any military takeover in Sudan and to avoid a collapse.
c) Lead the United Nations Security Council to send an investigative mission to Sudan to investigate human rights violations and ensure that there is an international presence in Sudan.
d) Cease all collaboration with Sudanese military officials
e) Impose targeted sanctions, freeze assets, and issue a travel ban on Lt General al-Burhan, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo “Hemeti,” and other military members involved in the coup until they surrender the power to a civilian government.
f) Investigate past crimes and support accountability for present crimes, particularly those committed against protestors
g) Facilitate the creation of multilateral grantees to oversee the implementation of the interim period in Sudan and develop strong accountability measures for parties involved in the event that they violate or pose obstacles to the implementation of the interim arrangements.

We appreciate the US effort and its condemnation of the coup; however, Sudan needs robust accountability measures to avert a catastrophe. The United States must stand with the people of Sudan in their calls for a civilian-led democracy. As your constituent, I urge you to continue to monitor the crisis in Sudan and move to take the aforementioned actions before it is too late.

Sincerely,

(Name)

Phone Banking Script*:

Hello, my name is (name), and I am your constituent from (City, State). I am calling to ask (Congressperson’s name) to urge the Biden Administration to put pressure on military leaders in Sudan, in particular, Lt. General al-Burhan, to immediately step down and allow the safe restoration of a civilian-led government in Sudan.Since Omar al-Bashir was successfully deposed in the 2019 revolution after 30 years of corrupt and genocidal governance, the Sudanese people have been fighting for their freedom and transparent, democratic rule. The military coup that was conducted on October 25th is a major blow to democratization progress and the prospect of peace in Sudan. With the military cracking down on opponents, signaling its ties to the former regime, and cutting off internet access, the window of opportunity is slowly diminishing. It is time to stand with the Sudanese people as they fight for their last hold on freedom and democracy. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Letter Writing/Email Script:

Hello (Congressperson’s Name),

My name is (name), and I am your constituent from (state). I am emailing you on behalf of Darfur Women Action Group to ask for your help to urge the Biden administration put pressure on military leaders in Sudan, in particular, Lt. General al-Burhan, to immediately step down and allow the safe restoration of a civilian-led government in Sudan. Since Omar al-Bashir was successfully deposed in the 2019 revolution after 30 years of corrupt and genocidal governance, the Sudanese people have been fighting for their freedom and transparent, democratic rule. The military coup that was conducted on October 25th is a major blow to democratization progress and the prospect of peace in Sudan. With the military cracking down on opponents, signaling its ties to the former regime, and cutting off internet access and releasing al-Bashir’s allies from detention, the window of opportunity is slowly diminishing. It is time to stand with the Sudanese people as they fight for their last hold on freedom and democracy. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

(Name)

*List website where people can find there representatives/senators and their contact information

Civilian-led Government: Fulfilling the Promise of the Interim Sudanese Government—Women’s Participation in all Levels of Decision-Making

By Ana Torres

Like in any other nation, Sudanese women have contributed to shaping the history of their country, demonstrating outstanding leadership to shape the future of Sudan. However, when it comes to political participation, they have been completely sidelined from meaningful participation in public institutions for decades at the hands of the Bashir regime and his archaic and oppressive laws against women. This, in addition to the long-standing crises and economic disparities, worsens gender inequalities and pre-existing patterns of cultural barriers that promote discrimination against women. Nevertheless, Sudanese women have remained remarkably resilient, as they were instrumental in the 2019 revolution that ousted Bashir’s authoritarian regime. Despite their leading efforts in ushering in a new era for their country, Sudanese women continued to be excluded from the transition arrangement and the peace process in Sudan. The interim government, despite the promise to integrate women’s voices, showed no genuine interest in fulfilling it. As a result, women’s representation in the interim government and implementation of the Juba Peace Agreement were inadequate.

Even worse now, following the military takeover, the civic space for women to have their voices heard has shrunk significantly. Negotiations to resolve the current crisis in Sudan have also been inadequate, as international actors have not prioritized women’s participation. Women must be included in the negotiations because sustainable change in Sudan cannot be achieved without their active participation. However, to ensure women’s meaningful inclusion and participation at all levels of decision-making in Sudan, a civilian-led government must be restored. Without it, the civic space for women will continue to be limited. Therefore, international actors must hold accountable those responsible for orchestrating the coup and immediately restore a civilian-led government to ensure women’s active participation in all levels of decision-making to achieve the societal change that the Sudanese people have been demanding.

Sudanese women were instrumental figures in the revolution that overthrew al-Bashir in 2019. News outlets estimated that about 70 percent of the protesters were women who not only marched at the frontlines of the protests but were committed to providing food, resources, and information for other protestors. Yet even with the pivotal role women played in the revolution, this did not translate to adequate levels of participation in the post-revolution political processes. Women were sidelined during the negotiations between the Transitional Military Council and Forces for Freedom and Change in 2019 that led to the interim government. This resulted in low representation of women despite the interim government’s obligations under the Constitutional Charter, which stipulated that women must constitute 40% of the leaders of the Transitional Legislative Council’s members. Article 1.20 of the Juba Peace Agreement signed in October 2020 also states the importance of women’s representation at all levels of decision-making and emphasizes that women’s representation at all levels of power and decision-making must be no less than 40 percent. The interim government did not adhere to the promises made in these documents, as women’s representation in Sudan on all levels remained at abysmal levels.

The initial transitional government formed after the agreement between the Military Council and Forces for Freedom and Change was composed of an 18-member Cabinet of Ministers, of which only four were women, and an 11-member Sovereign Council, of which only two were women. Thus, the total rate of women’s participation at the outset of the formation of the interim government was 20.6 percent. Tragically, these numbers decreased rather than increased as the transitional period continued. The Juba Peace Agreement led to the reshuffle of the interim government, as it required both the Cabinet of Ministers and Sovereign Council to incorporate rebels into leadership positions. Prime Minister Abdallah Hamdok’s cabinet also increased the number of cabinet members to 25. The Sovereign Council added three more seats for the rebels, creating a 14-member council. Yet, despite the increase in political leaders within the interim government, the number of women within it remained the same. Then in May 2021, one of the two women serving on the Sovereign Council, Aisha Musa El-Said, resigned, accusing the military component of the transitional government of sidelining civilian voices. Such developments decreased women’s participation in the interim government from 20.6 percent to 12 percent. Similarly, women’s participation remained low on the regional level, as only two women were appointed as governors out of the 18 states in Sudan. This means that total women’s participation at the regional level remained a pathetic 11 percent.

Despite these challenges, Sudanese women remained remarkably resilient, as they continuously demanded the interim government fulfill its obligation to ensure their full and meaningful participation in all levels of decision-making. For instance, after Prime Minister Hamdok announced the 18 new state governors last year, women protested against the low levels of their representation in high-level government positions and demanded a commitment to the agreed-upon participation rate of 40 percent. In addition, the Darfuri women that took part in the Juba Peace Agreement negotiations accused the interim Sudanese government, Peace Commission, and rebel movements of violating the Juba Peace Agreement’s provision on the representation of women in governance. Unfortunately, the interim government continued to fail Sudanese women by not keeping its promise and adhering to the agreement.

Now, with the military takeover, the civic space for women has severely shrunk, making it nearly impossible for women to make their voices heard. Although an agreement between the Sudanese military and Prime Minister Hamdok was reached, this agreement has not led to the restoration of a civilian-led government. Rather, the agreement legitimizes the military coup and extends the power of the military over the political transition, undermining any progress made towards the meaningful inclusion of women. While the military was supposed to transfer power to the civilian-led government on November 17, 2021, the agreement between Prime Minister Hamdok and the military modified this timeframe, handing power to the military over the civilian-led government until elections will supposedly be held in 2023. This is extremely concerning because, without a clear timeframe, the military can continue holding overwhelming power over the political transition, resulting in the continued exclusion of women from decision-making.

Darfur Women Action Group (DWAG) has taken an institutional approach to combat women’s exclusion and strongly advocates for women’s inclusion at all levels of decision-making in Sudan. For this, DWAG has developed a document entitled, “Strategic Framework for Women’s Participation and Empowerment in Sudan,” which analyzes and addresses women’s issues on the basis of three principles: protection, prevention, and participation. DWAG hopes the Strategic Framework will serve as a guide for a National Action Plan to establish equal participation and to secure the protection of women and girls’ human rights. Further, the Strategic Framework creates the foundation that will allow women from across Sudan to work together to mainstream their agenda into public institutions in order for meaningful change to take place.

To accomplish this, international actors must pressure the military to restore the civilian-led government that can adopt an institutional approach to women’s inclusion in all levels of decision-making. Therefore, international actors must implement strong measures such as targeted sanctions, travel bans, and asset freezing on General al-Burhan, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo “Hemeti,” and other military members until they surrender to a civilian-led government. It is only with a civilian-led government that the demands of women and women-led civil society organizations—particularly those from historically marginalized and conflict-affected communities—will be heard and the promises of the interim government be fulfilled. The inclusion of women in governance would guarantee a Sudanese government that is more unified, representative, and able to tackle the challenges that all people around the country face.

Sudanese women have demonstrated time and time again that their leadership is critical in affecting societal change and that they must be equally included in the transformation of their country. Thus, when a truly civilian-led government is implemented in Sudan, it must look beyond meeting the 40 percent quota and create a strong civic space where women can have their voices heard; merely meeting the quota is not enough. International and regional actors working in Sudan must also make women’s inclusion a prerequisite for any support or collaboration in Sudan. Furthermore, empowering women civil society leaders and providing them with the tools, access to communication and technology, and economic empowerment must be the foundation for all interventions. These efforts will enable women to bring their voices to the center of decision-making and collectively work for the transformation of Sudan and foster sustainable social change. With women’s active participation in the transition, Sudan will finally undergo the societal change necessary to truly lead the country to a democratic and peaceful future.

Ana Torres is a recent graduate from the University of California, Berkeley, with a B.A. in Political Science with a specialization in International Relations and a minor in Human Rights. She is currently the Outreach and Partnership Building Intern for Darfur Women Action Group.

Letter to the United Nations Security Council Members for Accountability and the Immediate Restoration of a Civilian-led Government in Sudan

H.E. Ambassador Juan Ramón de la Fuente

Representative to the United Nations

Mexico Mission to the United Nations

2 United Nations Plaza, 28th Floor

New York, NY 10017 United States

Cc: All Member States of the United Nations Security Council

Stand with the People of Sudan

For Accountability and the Immediate Restoration of a Civilian-led Government in Sudan

Your H.E. Ambassador de la Fuente:

Darfur Women Action Group (DWAG) and the undersigned civil society leaders are writing to you to express their grave concern about the military takeover in Sudan and its implication on the safety and security of vulnerable civilians. We are further concerned about attacks on peaceful protesters and the closure of internet and phone services in Sudan, constituting yet more grave violations of the Sudanese people’s rights. Despite the reinstation of Prime Minster Hamdok to his pre-coup position, the Sovereign Council has not followed through with what they have agreed upon in the Interim Constitution—to transfer power to the civilian-led government by the end of their term, November 17, 2021. We believe accountability for orchestrating a coup and the transfer of power to a civilian-led government must not be compromised.

The September 21st coup attempt intensified tensions between the civilian and military factions of the Sudanese interim government, culminating in yet another desperate power move on behalf of the military apparatus. On the morning of October 25, 2021, the military staged a coup, placing Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok under arrest, later moving him to an unknown location after his refusal to support the military takeover. General al-Burhan’s actions are unacceptable and in violation of the Interim Constitution, International Human Rights, and Humanitarian Laws promoted by the Security Council.

After news of the coup spread, crowds immediately gathered in the streets to protest in rejection of the coup. However, the military and Rapid Support Forces (RSF) responded by patrolling the area with a heavy military presence in various areas across Sudan and using brutal force against civilians. Thus far, at least 39 people have been reportedly killed and more than 512 injured. Moreover, internet and phone services have been disrupted or unavailable in Khartoum and across Sudan, and roads and bridges connecting Khartoum with the rest of Sudan have been closed, making it more difficult to access information. The internet shutdown has put more people at risk as they face attacks and cannot reach out for help or emergency assistance. We are worried that with no internet or phone service in Sudan, regions of high risk, such as Darfur and South Kordofan, with millions out of their homes, face an even greater risk of violence as the news of recent attacks having already been reported.

DAWG and the undersigned civil society leaders are also extremely concerned over the dissolution of the government, including state governors, which created lawlessness that further endangers the lives of millions of people, particularly those who dare to protest and those vulnerable people living in internally displaced camps for near two decades in Darfur and two other areas. We are further concerned about General al-Burhan’s remarks emphasizing close relations with the RSF, which further legitimizes this force involved in the genocide in Darfur. We fear that this will embolden them to continue their genocidal campaign to eradicate the people of Darfur as the RSF already continues to attack civilians. In the first seven months of 2021 alone, the RSF and Arab militias have been explicitly responsible for 388 civilian casualties in Darfur. Thus, the military takeover will obviously lead to more insecurity and heighten displacement, further deteriorating the humanitarian situation.

As the people of Sudan and we at DWAG and the undersigned civil society leaders are familiar with the military rule and its history of human rights violations, we have repeatedly warned the international community not to trust the Sudanese military leaders who have been implicated in previous crimes. We have implored the United Nations Security Council not to withdraw the United Nations-African Union Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID). Additionally, DWAG consistently urged the United Nations Security Council to pressure the interim government to surrender al-Bashir to the International Criminal Court and be held accountable for his crimes. Unfortunately, the failure of the international community to take any of these actions seriously has led General al-Burhan to believe that he can disregard the demands of the people and dismantle the democratic transition without consequences. Orchestrating a coup while unlawfully arresting government officials and endangering the lives of millions is a grave crime that should have shocked the world and galvanized both regional and international leaders to hold the military in Sudan accountable. We greatly appreciate the several statements from regional and global actors condemning the coup, but given the severe threat in Sudan, words are not enough to avert a collapse. In order to avert a catastrophe, the United Nations Security Council must take immediate action to hold General al-Burhan and others accountable for their criminal actions and restore the civilian-led government as it was stipulated in the Interim Constitution.

This coup has destroyed all the gains the people of Sudan have built in the last two years to rebuild their nation. It is time for the international community to listen to the Sudanese people’s demands. We believe that the United Nations Security Council members are that voice of conscience that can speak for the people of Sudan in these times of their great suffering and need. The international community has invested so much in bringing about peace in Sudan, and military leaders must be held accountable for draining such investment. If the international community does not take immediate action to ensure the restoration of a civilian government in Sudan, the possibility of achieving peace and stability will be sabotaged by the former regime’s affiliates. Therefore, DWAG and the undersigned civil society leaders implore the United Nations Security Council to immediately address the current situation before it descends Sudan into chaos that will not only affect the prospect of peace and stability in Sudan but in the whole of Eastern Africa and the continent’s horn as well.

DWAG and the undersigned civil society leaders call upon the United Nations Security Council to take the following actions:

Reject the military coup and call for the immediate restoration of a civilian government.
Maintain sanctions and arms embargo on Sudan and impose targeted sanctions (including a travel ban and freezing assets) on General al-Burhan, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo “Hemeti,” and all officials and other military members involved in the coup.
Dispatch an independent and high-level mission to Sudan to gather factual information and monitor the situation and restore peace in Sudan.
Cease all collaboration with Sudanese military officials until they surrender the power to a civilian government.
Authorize a United Nations force to protect civilians, particularly in Darfur, Blue Nile, South Kordofan, and Khartoum throughout the remainder of the interim period.
Demand the immediate surrender of al-Bashir, Haroun, and Hussein to The Hague to hold them accountable for their crimes against the people of Darfur.

We believe now more than ever that a civilian-led government and criminal accountability are the only way forward to establish the foundation for democracy and transform Sudan. The United Nations Security Council must prioritize accountability and the safe restoration of a civilian government in Sudan. Without it, there cannot be peace nor democracy in Sudan. The Sudanese people have demanded a civilian government, justice, and security. The United Nations Security Council has the tools at hand to leverage and ensure that these demands are met in order to bring change to Sudan.

DWAG and the undersigned civil society leaders appreciate the role of the United Nations Security Council and its efforts to mediate peace and promote stability in Sudan. We will be grateful for your kind consideration.

Sincerely,

The undersigned,

Niemat Ahmadi, President, Darfur Women Action Group — Washington D.C., USA

Eileen Weiss, New York Coalition for Sudan —New York, USA

Gregory Stanton, Founder and President, Genocide Watch — Virginia, USA

Peter Van Arsdale, Co-chair, Natural Disaster Response Committee, Rotary International — Illinois, USA

Mohamed Hamid, Global Ambassador, Darfur Women Action Group — Rome, Italy

Maria Kisumbi, Senior Advisor, Policy & Government Relations, Humanity United — Washington D.C., USA

Rupert Skilbeck, Director, REDRESS — London, United Kingdom

Dr. Hashim Eltinay, Salaam Sudan — Washington D.C., USA

Dr. Mahmoud Draima, President, Darfur Association of North America — Baton Rouge, USA

Mohamed Yassin Khalifa, Educator & Human Rights Activist — Cambridge, USA

Amber Maze, Co-Founder & Executive Director, Crane Center for Mass Atrocity Prevention — Indiana, USA

Bakhiet Shata, Director, Darfur Community Association — Omaha, USA

Martha Boshnick, Co-chair, Darfur Interfaith Network — Bethesda, USA

Hagir Elsheikh, CEO, HSE Staffing Agency LLC — Pennsylvania, USA

Dr. Beckry Abdel-Magid, Professor, Composite Materials Engineering — Minnesota, USA

Tamador Gibreel, Sudan Human Rights Network — Washington D.C., USA

Kamala B. E. Osman, Sudan Human Rights Network — Texas, USA

Letter to the U.S Secretary of State, Antony J. Blinken for Accountability and the Immediate Restoration of a Civilian-led Government in Sudan

To: The United States Secretary of State, Antony J. Blinken

US Department of State

2201 C St., NW

Washington, DC 20520

Stand with the People of Sudan

For Accountability and the Immediate Restoration of a Civilian-led Government in Sudan

Dear Secretary of State Blinken:

Darfur Women Action Group (DWAG) and the undersigned civil society leaders are writing to you to express their grave concern about the military takeover in Sudan and its implication on the safety and security of vulnerable civilians. We are further concerned about attacks on peaceful protesters and the closure of the internet and phone services in Sudan, which constitute another grave violation of the Sudanese people’s rights. Despite the reinstation of Prime Minster Hamdok to his pre-coup position, the Sovereign Council has not followed through with what they have agreed upon in the Interim Constitution—to transfer power to the civilian-led government by the end of their term, November 17, 2021. We believe accountability for orchestrating a coup and the transfer of power to a civilian-led government must not be compromised.

The September 21st coup attempt intensified tensions between the civilian and military factions of the Sudanese interim government, culminating in yet another desperate power move on behalf of the military apparatus. On the morning of October 25, 2021, the military staged a coup, placing Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok under arrest, later moving him to an unknown location after his refusal to support the military takeover. General al-Burhan justified the coup by claiming that the military needed to protect the country’s security as stated in the constitutional declaration. Nevertheless, General al-Burhan’s actions are unacceptable and in violation of the Interim Constitution.

After news of the coup spread, crowds immediately gathered in the streets to protest in rejection of the coup. However, the military and Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have been patrolling the area with a heavy military presence in various areas across Sudan and are using brutal force against civilians. Thus far, at least 39 people have been reportedly killed and more than 512 injured. Moreover, internet and phone services have been disrupted or unavailable in Khartoum and across Sudan, making it more difficult to access information. In addition, roads and bridges connecting Khartoum with the rest of Sudan have been closed. The internet shutdown has put more people at risk as they face attacks and are unable to reach out for help or emergency assistance. We are worried that with no internet and phone service in Sudan, regions of high risk such as Darfur and South Kordofan, with millions out of their homes, will face a greater risk of violence; the news of recent attacks has already been reported.

DAWG and the undersigned civil society leaders are also extremely concerned over the dissolution of the government, including state governors, which created lawlessness that further endangers the lives of millions of people, particularly those who dare to protest and those vulnerable living in internally displaced camps for near two decades in Darfur and two other areas. We are further concerned about General al-Burhan’s remarks emphasizing close relations with the RSF, which further legitimizes this force involved in the genocide in Darfur. We fear that this will embolden them to continue their genocidal campaign to eradicate the people of Darfur as the RSF continues to attack civilians. In the first seven months of 2021 alone, the RSF and Arab militias have been explicitly responsible for 388 civilian casualties throughout Darfur. Thus, the military takeover can lead to more insecurity and heighten displacement, further deteriorating the humanitarian situation.

As the people of Sudan and we at DWAG and the undersigned civil society leaders are familiar with the military rule and their history of human rights violations, we have repeatedly warned the international community not to trust the Sudanese military leaders who have been implicated in previous crimes and implored the United Nations Security Council not to withdraw the United Nations-African Union Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID). Additionally, DWAG consistently urged the United Nations Security Council and the United States, in particular, to pressure the interim government to surrender al-Bashir to the International Criminal Court and be held accountable for his crimes. Unfortunately, the failure of the international community to take any of these actions seriously has led General al-Burhan to believe that he can disregard the demands of the people and dismantle the democratic transition without consequences. Orchestrating a coup while unlawfully arresting government officials and endangering the lives of millions is a grave crime that should have shocked the world and galvanized both regional and international leaders to hold the military in Sudan accountable. We greatly appreciate the several statements from US officials, including the statement from the Secretary of State Blinken and President Biden condemning the coup, but given the severe threat in Sudan, words are not sufficient to avert a collapse. To avert a catastrophe, the United States must take immediate action to pressure General al-Burhan and others accountable for their criminal actions to restore the civilian-led government as it has been stipulated in the Interim Constitution.

This coup has destroyed all the gains the people of Sudan have built in the last two years to rebuild their nation. It is time for international actors, such as the United States, to listen to the Sudanese people’s demands. The United States has invested so much in bringing about peace in Sudan, and military leaders must be held accountable for draining such investment. If the United States does not take immediate action to ensure the restoration of a civilian government in Sudan, the possibility of achieving peace and stability will be sabotaged by the former regime’s affiliates. Therefore, DWAG and the undersigned civil society leaders implore the United States to immediately address the current situation before Sudan descends into chaos that will not only affect the prospect of peace and stability in Sudan but in the whole of Eastern Africa and the continent’s horn. It can possibly pose a threat to the United States’ national security as Sudan can once again strengthen its ties with terrorist groups.

DWAG and the undersigned civil society leaders call upon the United States to take the following actions:

Dispatch a high-level official to Sudan to gather factual information and mediate the tensions.
Call for an urgent United Nations Security Council meeting to rally multilateral action against any military takeover in Sudan and thereby avoid a collapse.
Lead the United Nations Security Council to send an investigative mission to Sudan to oversee the situation and ensure that there is an international presence in Sudan.
Cease all collaboration with Sudanese military officials and impose targeted sanctions (including a travel ban and assets freezing ) on General al-Burhan, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo “Hemeti,” and other military members involved in the coup until they surrender the power to a civilian government.
Facilitate the creation of multilateral grantees to oversee the implementation of the interim period in Sudan and develop strong accountability measures for parties involved in the event that they violate or pose obstacles to the implementation of the interim arrangements.
Denounce Egyptian government interference, including threatening aid withdrawal in the event that Egypt intervenes in the internal affairs of Sudan by backing the military takeover.
Call on allies in the Gulf States to not support military control over the interim government.
Denounce the Russian naval base and its interference with Sudan’s internal affairs.
Impose pressure for the immediate restoration of the internet and phone services as fundamental civil rights.
Take strong measures to make criminal accountability for past and current crimes a priority in Sudan.

We believe now more than ever that a civilian-led government and criminal accountability are the only way forward to establish the foundation for democracy and transform Sudan. The United States must prioritize accountability and the safe restoration of a civilian government in Sudan. Without it, there cannot be peace nor democracy in Sudan. The Sudanese people have demanded a civilian government, justice, and security. The United States has the tools at hand to leverage and ensure that these demands are met in order to bring change to Sudan.

DWAG and the undersigned civil society leaders appreciate the role of the United States and its efforts to mediate peace and promote stability in Sudan. We will be grateful for your kind consideration.