Resolution on the political crisis in Sudan

The European Parliament adopted by 629 votes to 30, with 31 abstentions a resolution on the political crisis in Sudan.

Prior to the coup of 25 October 2021, Sudanese military and civilian leaders had been sharing power since August 2019 after authoritarian leader Omar al-Bashir was ousted following demonstrations demanding civilian rule. The power-sharing agreement between the military and civilian actors led to the establishment of the Sovereignty Council as the country’s collective head of state.

The 2019 power sharing agreement was shattered on 25 October 2021 when military leader General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan staged a coup, declared a state of emergency, dissolved the power-sharing Sovereignty Council, sacked the civilian government and temporarily detained Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok and his ministerial team as well as other activists and political figures, sparking international condemnation and widespread protests in Sudan.

Following the military coup of 25 October 2021, citizens continue to organise peaceful mass demonstrations against the military, which has continued to respond with violence and extreme force, including the use of live ammunition, tear gas and stun grenades, leading to the death of at least 70 protesters with hundreds more injured and imprisoned.

On 8 January 2022, the United Nations Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan (UNITAMS) launched consultations to restore the democratic transition with the aim of inviting the military, rebel groups, political parties, protest movements, civil society and women’s groups to take part in the process. Although this has been broadly welcomed both in Sudan and internationally, some parts of society remain firmly opposed to any power-sharing arrangement with military figures.

Parliament deplored the killing of scores of Sudanese protestors and the injuries caused to hundreds more, including the use of sexual violence, at the hands of security services and other armed groups since the military coup. It underlined the right of the Sudanese people to assemble and exercise their fundamental rights for democracy to be re-established and for their basic needs to be met.

The resolution called for the immediate release of those currently in detention without charge or trial, for those facing charges to be allowed full access to legal representation and for the state of emergency to be lifted immediately.

While stressing that if constitutional order is not fully restored, there will be serious consequences for EU financial support, Parliament underlined the need for continued EU assistance in the provision of basic services such as health and education.

Members also reiterated their call for an EU-wide ban on the export, sale, update and maintenance of any form of security equipment that can be or is used for internal repression, including internet surveillance technology, to states with deplorable human rights records such as Sudan.

Parliament strongly supports efforts by UNITAMS to facilitate discussions to resolve the political crisis. It is also of the firm opinion that the appointment of the new civilian prime minister and cabinet should happen in the light of just such a Sudanese internal dialogue in order to ensure their credibility and acceptance among Sudanese civil society, which has made clear that it denies any form of authoritarian government and wants a true and permanent transition to democracy.

Lastly, Parliament expressed deep concern over the alarming rise in violence in Darfur and South Kordofan and called on international monitors to refocus their attention on Darfur and South Kordofan to protect the local population from violence, harm and mass displacement.