The United Civil Forces Coalition, a broad coalition of various Sudanese civil, political, and social forces formed in response to the ongoing conflict, issued a statement from the Ugandan capital, Kampala, emphasizing the urgent need for peace and unity in Sudan.
“The war of April 15, 2023, marks a dangerous turning point in Sudan’s history since the departure of the colonizer,” the statement said.
The UCFC described the conflict as a reflection of decades of accumulated failures by successive Sudanese regimes, which, they argued, mismanaged the country’s immense human and material resources. This mismanagement has led to a deep political, economic, social, security, and cultural crisis, culminating in regional and civil wars that have devastated the nation’s resources, UCFC said.
The UCFC noted that the Sudanese people had been optimistic following the toppling of the Bashir regime, which they described as “the worst era in Sudan’s history.”
The coalition highlighted the hopes sparked by the December revolution, which sought to build an inclusive country governed by a civil democratic state. However, the coalition blamed long-standing forces for thwarting the people’s dreams by igniting the April 15 war, which has plunged the country into further chaos.
“This war has resulted in the worst disaster humanity and the modern world have witnessed,” the statement continued, underscoring the severe humanitarian crisis that has displaced millions and caused the collapse of basic services and constitutional order in Sudan.
In response to the ongoing crisis, the UCFC has vowed to unite various factions within Sudan. Their coalition includes resistance groups, grassroots social forces, youth committees, women’s sectors, political factions, and armed struggle movements that have signed peace agreements, along with symbolic community and religious leaders.
The vast coalition aims to build a broad consensus to address Sudan’s challenges and rebuild the nation.
UCFC called on all political and revolutionary forces to engage in dialogue, reject violence and extremism, and commit to peaceful political action.
United Civil Forces Coalition outlines key goals for Sudan’s future
The UCFC laid out its key objectives to bring an end to the war in Sudan and guide the country towards peace, justice, and democratic transformation.
In a statement from Kampala, the coalition emphasized the need for a comprehensive transitional period that would lay the foundation for rebuilding Sudan as a unified, democratic state.
The UCFC’s primary goals include:
- Ending the war and building peace, with a clear transitional period that leads to full democratic transformation.
- Establishing a new Sudanese state founded on the principles of development, justice, and democracy, under a federal civil system that respects all religions, identities, and cultures equally.
- Reforming state institutions to ensure efficiency, professionalism, national unity, and equal opportunities for all citizens.
- Building a single, national professional army that is free from political and regional biases and reflects the country’s diverse population.
- Pursuing a balanced foreign policy that promotes the interests of the Sudanese people and fosters regional and international peace and cooperation.
- Reconstructing war-damaged infrastructure and developing the rural economy while addressing the needs of displaced persons through programs for voluntary return, resettlement, and rehabilitation.
- Achieving transitional justice, including holding those responsible for crimes and violations accountable, and handing over individuals wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC).
The UCFC statement called on the Sudanese army (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) to heed international calls for negotiations to cease the fighting, protect civilians, and ensure humanitarian aid reaches those in need.
The coalition stressed the importance of a ceasefire agreement as a stepping stone for broader national dialogue that includes all factions.
Additionally, the UCFC urged both sides to ease civilian suffering by allowing the unrestricted passage of food and medicine and condemned the use of food as a weapon of war, labeling it a war crime.
The coalition also called for better treatment of prisoners, in line with international conventions, and the release of vulnerable detainees, including the sick, elderly, and injured.
The UCFC praised the RSF’s willingness to respond to international calls for peace and called for uniting all international forums and initiatives aimed at resolving Sudan’s crisis.
“We envision a homeland free from racism and hate speech, where the rule of law prevails,” the UCFC said, stressing that national dialogue is the most effective path to achieving a political solution and peaceful transition to a democratic civilian government.
The UCFC also condemned the targeted Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) airstrikes on safe communities in cities and remote rural areas, the destruction of essential infrastructure, and the killing of innocent civilians.
Who is the United Civil Forces Coalition?
The United Civil Forces Coalition (UCFC), is a diverse alliance of Sudanese civil, political, and social forces, which emerged in response to the ongoing conflict and political instability in Sudan.
Comprised of a wide array of groups—including resistance movements, political factions, women’s organizations, armed struggle groups, and community leaders—the UCFC aims to address the deep-rooted crises facing the nation.
Formed in opposition to the conflict that broke out on April 15, 2023, between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), the UCFC aims to end the war and push for sustainable peace.
The coalition calls for the establishment of a democratic, civilian-led government and the rebuilding of Sudan on principles of justice, democracy, and equal representation for all citizens.
The UCFC also advocates for the creation of a national, professional army that remains free from political and regional biases.
Operating from Kampala, Uganda, the UCFC has called on Sudanese factions to unite in peaceful negotiations and urging the international community to support efforts to resolve the conflict.
The coalition stresses the importance of dialogue, rejecting violence, and addressing Sudan’s challenges through peaceful and constructive means.
