A delegation from Sudan's Revolutionary Front (SRF) argued its case with European officials and international organisations last week. Touring France, Belgium, Norway and Germany, the delegation tried to rally diplomatic support for what they consider to be Sudan's forgotten cause. Malik Agar, of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North; Gibril Ibrahim, leader of the Darfur-based Justice and Equality Party; Abdel-Wahed Nour, leader of the Sudan Liberation Movement-Abdel-Wahed; and Minni Minnawi, leader of the SLM-Minnawi, told their European interlocutors of the human rights violations of the Sudanese regime, its suppression of the opposition and its economic ineptness. The SRF's European tour is taking place against a backdrop of a new peace initiative by the African Peace and Security Council. The initiative, launched in October, calls on armed groups in Sudan to start unconditional negotiations with the Sudanese government in keeping with the Doha Document on Peace in Darfur (DDPD). The SRF is presenting itself as the main spokesman for the opposition in Sudan. The umbrella organisation, representing most Sudanese armed groups, is attempting to rally the entire country behind it in a quest to overthrow Omar Al-Bashir's regime. SRF leaders, who held a news conference in Paris last week, said that they need international support for their overall plan to reshape Sudan's future. This plan, featuring an interim government and democratisation through elections, seeks to pull Sudan out of its political and economic turmoil. In their talks with European officials, SRF officials say that they can end the war, restore law and order, revive the economy and make arrangements for refugees to return to their homes. The Sudanese opposition leaders promised to hold free and fair elections, with international supervision, at the earliest opportunity. The SRF leaders urged the international community to offer them support in their fight to depose Al-Bashir's regime, but they didn't specify the form of support they need. Aside from consultations with European officials and human rights groups, the opposition leaders also conferred with members of the Sudanese expatriate community. The European visit is partly motivated by the international community's perceived negligence of the Sudanese internal community. Recently, most of the focus was on reconciling Sudan and South Sudan. With other regional problems, Syria and Iran primarily, stealing the spotlight, the Sudanese opposition felt that their cause was being pushed into the shadows. The European tour was partly aimed at reviving the political message contained in the agreement Sudanese opposition parties signed earlier this year, alternatively known as the Kampala Declaration, or the New Dawn Convention Document. It was this declaration that unleashed the full wrath of the Khartoum government against the opposition. But the SRF told its European interlocutors that they are committed to bringing the regime down and democratising Sudan, the goals enshrined in the said document. SRF officials are trying to revive diplomatic efforts that flagged since US envoy Susan Rice was relieved from her post. In the past few months, Washington quit pressuring the Sudanese government to change its ways, or so the opposition claims. However, the real cause for the European talks is the agreements Khartoum is said to have signed in secret with neighbouring countries. These agreements were conceived to stifle the opposition and weaken its support abroad, SRF officials noted. According to the opposition, Khartoum is trying first to undermine the opposition and then force it to lay down its weapons. Facing mounting unrest in various cities, which started two months ago, Al-Bashir's regime is clinging to power for dear life. Khartoum, which is losing the support of a segment of Islamists, has been trying to make friends with its neighbours, including South Sudan. The Sudanese regime promised Juba to stop supporting the rebels in South Sudan if the latter would reciprocate. Khartoum is also said to have instructed its allies in South Sudan to stand by the recent political changes introduced by Salva Kiir. This may explain the return of South Sudanese opposition leader Lam Akol to Juba. To return the favour, Juba authorities pledged to discontinue their support to the Sudanese armed opposition. Khartoum is also said to have reached similar arrangements with Chad, the Central Africa Republic and Ethiopia. Chad is said to have promised Khartoum to pressure the militants of the Zaghawa tribe to join the DDPD. In a similar deal, the Central African Republic is said to have promised Khartoum to stop allowing Sudanese insurgents to use its land as a launching pad for anti-government military activities. But persistent differences among the opposition continue to pose a major obstacle to possible regime change in Sudan. Unless the SRF comes up with a credible plan for political change, and rally most of the nation behind it, the turmoil in Sudan is likely to continue. Instead of touring Europe in the hope of shoring up its vulnerable fortunes, the SRF should start a vigorous campaign to unite the Sudanese behind a credible and feasible agenda.
