Joint Statement between the Sudan Liberation Movement/Army and the Original Democratic Unionist Party

Reassurance to the common relationship and the historical stands which brought together the Original Democratic Unionist Party (ODUP) and the Sudan Liberation Movement/Army (SLM/A), and being aware and sensing the risks that our country is going through due to the destructive war that broke out on 15th of April 2023, and seeking to find a safe way out to the Sudanese crisis within the persistent efforts to form the largest national front, in order to stop and end the ongoing war and eventually; address the root causes of the historical conflict, to this end; a brainstorming meeting was held between the Original Democratic Unionist Party (ODUP) and the Sudan Liberation Movement/Army (SLM/A), in juba the capital city of the Republic of South Sudan.

However; the meeting which was characterized by transparency, frankness and the national dimension, had discussed the issues of stopping and ending of the war, and tackling its social, humanitarian and security consequences, through establishing the largest civil front, moreover; the two parties agreed on the following issues:-

First:- The 15th of April war is a real threat to the stability and unity of Sudan, therefore; it must be stopped promptly and address its causes, and deal with its social, humanitarian and security consequences, in accordance with a genuine national partnership between all the political forces which call for stopping and ending of the war.

Second: – To establish a largest national front from the political forces, the armed revolutionary struggle movements, civil society groups, and the native, religious, youth and the feminist entities, except the National Congress Party (NCP) and its facades.

Third: – Unifying visions and stands around forming a broad national front based on a genuine national partnership and endeavor with the all parties in order to stop the war and handle its effects.

Fourth:- The ongoing war has displaced millions of people, claimed the lives of tens of thousands of innocent civilians and created an overly intricate humanitarian and security conditions, to the extent that, the specter of famine is looming on the horizon, especially in the areas where the war is taking place and where dozens of children, women, pregnant women and the elderly are dying daily in the Internally Displaced Persons ( IDPs) camps in Darfur and in all shelter centers in the various regions of Sudan, due to food shortage, outbreak of epidemics and diseases, which requires an urgent intervention from the regional and international community and the opening up of the humanitarian corridors, to deliver relief and humanitarian aid to those affected population in all parts of Sudan without restrictions or conditions .

Fifth: – To bolster all the local, regional and international initiatives, especially the Jeddah platform, the IGAD initiative, the initiatives of the neighboring countries and generally all the initiatives which contribute in stopping of the war in Sudan.

Sixth:- To commit to fulfill the desire of the Sudanese people and the national forces in adopting the negotiated peaceful solutions as a method to end the war and achieve peace , away from the military and security solutions , that the Sudanese have tried and whose results are known to them.

Seventh: – Denunciating all the crimes and violations against the armless civilians and the destruction of public and private amenities which was committed during the ongoing war and not to be lenient with the perpetrators, and therefore; they must be prosecuted and punished, and the victims who were subjected to these violations and crimes be fairly compensated for.

Eight: – Calling for the immediate cessation of the violations and crimes and the declaration of the Cessation of Hostilities (CoH) that will be monitored by impartial parties, as groundwork for entering into the second phase of ending the war and addressing its historical root causes and issues of civil democratic transformation.

Ninth: – To form a joint mechanism for communication.

We extend our thanks and appreciation to the government and people of the Republic of South Sudan, and we highly value and appreciate the relentless and keen efforts made by His Excellency president Salva Kiir Mayardit to stop the war in Sudan, our sincere thanks and appreciation is also extended to Sudan’s neighboring countries for hosting millions of Sudanese refugees on their lands and to the friends of Sudan for standing with the Sudanese people in their ordeal.

Juba, the Republic of South Sudan

16th of Feb 2024

Sudan Liberation Movement/Army

Ustaz/ Abdul Wahid Mohammed Ahmed Alnour; the Chairman

The Original Democratic Unionist Party

Mr. Ja’far al-Sadiq Mohammed Osman el Mirghani; Deputy Chairman of the Party