Developments in Sudan and the Role of International Democracy Assistance Organizations

Two months since the onset of the conflict, Sudan is now facing the potential of a full-blown civil war, largely fought in urban centers across the country, in a sustained form of warfare that is unprecedented in Sudan, at least not for decades. Civilians have been forced to remain in their homes for weeks and are facing increasingly hotter temperatures, lack of water, electricity and dwindling food supplies, and few and insufficient opportunities to seek safe haven and refuge. Humanitarian access is almost non-existent, and evacuation to neighboring countries remains difficult with the airports closed, few routes by road, several checkpoints without guarantee of safety of passage, reports of lootings and kidnappings, and the death of hundreds of civilians. The conflict situation is facing the potential risk of being exacerbated by external actors siding with one or the other side in the conflict—providing the hallmarks of developing into a nasty proxy war.

With this background and the ongoing conflict threatening the lives of civilians, plunging Sudan into all-out armed conflict which has not been seen in the country for over two decades, there is an urgent need to cease hostilities, return to dialogue, and forge a way out of the current crisis based on political negotiations. Key among the priorities will be the negotiations concerning the security sector, the positioning and process for integration of the RSF into the SAF within a clear timeline, and a swift transition to civilian-led government in Sudan.

This briefing hosted by the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA), DT Institute, and the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) aims to provide insights into current developments in Sudan and past context, what unfolding events may mean for lasting peace and democratization, and implications for international actors and democracy assistance organizations and their engagement modalities in support of democracy in the country.

Moderator:

• Dr. Annika Silva Leander, Head of North America, International IDEA

Panelists:

• Ms. Maha Tambal, Program Manager, DT Institute
• Dr. Suliman Baldo, Senior Advisor, Enough Project
• Dr. Sami Saeed, Executive Director, Sudan Transparency and Policy Tracker (STPT)
• Mr. Shalva Kipshidze,  Country Director for Sudan, IFES