‘I have been asked a number of times what is the UK position is on National Dialogue. Broadly the answer is YES to a National Dialogue, but only one that is genuine, comprehensive and inclusive. My impression from my recent travels, talking to Sudanese from El Genina to Dongola, is that this is the view of many.’
That is why the President’s call for a National Dialogue is welcome. There has been some criticism that the concept is rather vague. The Government say this is deliberate at this stage, to avoid closing off options. In any case, in two important respects the President was more specific:
– He set an ambitious agenda which seems to address the key challenges Sudan faces: peace, poverty, political reform and identity;
– And he made clear that there should be a diverse and inclusive range of participants, extending beyond political parties to include civil society and the armed groups provided they renounced violence.
The President’s speech has started a debate. Not everyone is convinced that the offer is genuine. But some political parties appear to be taking it seriously and considering what their response should be. I was struck during a recent visit outside Khartoum by the strong interest among civil society groups to know more about National Dialogue, in particular how they might engage. This reinforces two important points about the Dialogue: it needs to be both transparent and inclusive. It isn’t yet.
So far there has been a lot of discussion and some preparation of position papers: talks about talks. But no action. Yet the issues National Dialogue needs to address are urgent: the economy is under continuous pressure; and conflict in Darfur has flared up horribly again, displacing some 200,000 people in the last month.
Moreover, on the political front actions have not been consistent with the invitation to National Dialogue. In the last few weeks NGO events have been disrupted, demonstrations dispersed leading to the death of a student and some 11 editions of newspapers confiscated. It’s hard to see how the kind of wide-ranging inclusive National Dialogue the President appears to have in mind can flourish in this sort of political atmosphere. Moreover, such actions are in breach of the basic civic and human rights enshrined in Sudan’s Constitution.
Nothing would better demonstrate the seriousness of the Government’s intent on National Dialogue than a significant and tangible relaxation of restrictions on freedoms of expression and assembly, and serious efforts to bring to an end Sudan’s internal conflicts. Several senior Government figures have told me that this will happen. They now need to deliver on that pledge.
I have been asked what the UK is doing to support National Dialogue. Part of the answer is to put the question to Sudanese people: What would you like the UK to do? They have made clear that the process has to be Sudanese led and Sudanese owned. We respect that. The UK continues to engage heavily on Sudan: financial, logistical and expert support for peace processes; political, humanitarian and developmental support for the peace in Darfur, capacity building for the media and civil society, and so on.
We are ready to support National Dialogue in ways Sudanese people participants would find helpful: expertise, mediation, diplomatic and political support. Or simply doing what I am doing now: making clear that we support the concept of an inclusive and comprehensive national dialogue; that we encourage all those with something to contribute to participate; that only political solutions will successfully address the issues facing Sudan (this is true for the Government and the armed opposition) and that National Dialogue needs a permissive political environment if it is to flourish.
A successful National Dialogue that developed and implemented solutions that all Sudanese felt part of would transform Sudan. It would also transform its relationships with the international community. Conversely, a National Dialogue that failed to fulfil the expectations the President himself has encouraged would be hugely disappointing and would no doubt exacerbate the challenges Sudan faces. For all these reasons we hope that an inclusive and transparent National Dialogue succeeds.