Sudanese official announces fresh peace initiative after talks with Museveni

Sudan’s Sovereign Council Deputy Chairman Malik Agar has announced a "new plan" for peace in Sudan after meeting Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni.

Agar, who was accompanied by Foreign Minister Hussein Awad Ali, officials and military leaders, was hosted by President Museveni at State House, Kampala.

“I assured him that the Sudanese government wants to end the war and is seeking to do so, and we agreed on a new plan to end the war in Sudan, which will be announced in the coming days,” said Agar.

Agar asserted the Sudanese government's dedication to ending the war during the meeting on Wednesday.

This development comes on the heels of conflicting statements by the Head of the Sovereign Council and Army Commander-in-Chief, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan.

Abdel had earlier pledged to continue battles against the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) until they disarm and relocate to designated cantonment sites.

The situation is further complicated by Sudan's suspension of cooperation with the regional Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) peacemaking initiative on January 17.

IGAD had sought a direct meeting between the army and RSF leaders. However, in a message to Abdel on February 1, the Djiboutian President and IGAD Chair urged him to reconsider this decision and re-engage in the peace process brokered by the East African bloc.

Agar, in a statement on X, formerly Twitter, characterized the conflict as "colonial," emphasizing that it primarily targets civilians.

The discussions with President Museveni also delved into the issue of Sudanese refugees flooding into Uganda, a key destination for many seeking safety.

Museveni revealed that he received a special message from Abdel, where the Chairman of the Transitional Sovereignty Council underscored the need for the fighting forces in Sudan to halt violence, facilitate peaceful elections, and empower the people to elect their leaders.

President Museveni emphasized the crucial role of dialogue among all stakeholders, stating that it allows for the identification of problems and contributes to the establishment of lasting peace in the region.

This afternoon at Entebbe, I received a special message from H.E. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, Chairman of the Transitional Sovereignty Council of Sudan, delivered by H.E. Malik Agar. As earlier advised, the fighting forces in Sudan should stop the violence, hold peaceful elections,… pic.twitter.com/rn3ufRp6OX

— Yoweri K Museveni (@KagutaMuseveni) February 21, 2024