Former Sudanese PM Abdallah Hamdok heading the Civil Forces Coordination (Taqqadum) has reiterated his call for Sudanese Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan to engage in discussions regarding a ceasefire and peace initiatives.
In recent developments, Hamdok dispatched missives to both al-Burhan and Rapid Support Forces (RSF) commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo in late December, proposing a rendezvous with the coordination’s leaders to address Sudan’s persistent conflict.
While Dagalo showed a positive response, meeting with coordination representatives in Addis Ababa on January 2, the military is yet to acknowledge Hamdok’s appeal.
Taqqadum and RSF talks in Ethiopia led to the “Addis Ababa Declaration,” outlining a ceasefire commitment contingent upon the army’s agreement.
However, Deputy Chairman of the Sovereign Council Malik Aqar has rejected meeting with Taqqadum and also criticized the Addis Ababa Declaration, labeling it an agreement between partners.
In response, Hamdok stressed on the X platform, “Today, I addressed the Commander-in-Chief of the Sudanese Armed Forces to urge him to accept the request for a direct meeting with the Coordination of Civilian Democratic Forces (Taqadum), to seize the opportunity that arose to stop the war.”
Hamdok underlined the potential for a ceasefire, as highlighted in the Addis Ababa Declaration, where the RSF has expressed willingness for ceasefire talks directly with the army.
“We must not waste this opportunity for peace and do our best to stop the war and build sustainable peace in our beloved country,” emphasized Hamdok.
As of November, over 12,000 lives have been lost, according to conservative estimates. The war has internally displaced over 7 million people and forced another 1.5 million to flee to neighboring countries.
