Sudan Dialogue Initiative: Guarantees, Immunities Sought for Participants

The Sudanese-Sudanese Dialogue Preparatory Initiative has outlined a set of guarantees and temporary procedural immunities it considers necessary to ensure a safe and conducive environment for an inclusive national dialogue to be held inside Sudan. In a statement issued following a press conference at Al Salam Rotana Hotel on Sunday, the Initiative welcomed the Sudanese state's commitment to providing a secure environment for the dialogue and acknowledged the initial guarantees put forward in this regard. It stressed, however, that such guarantees must be clear, written and verifiable, while remaining open to consultation and further development with the relevant parties. Among its key requirements, the Initiative called for the suspension of all cases and complaints filed by any state institution against Sudanese nationals residing abroad who return to the country to participate in preliminary consultations or a subsequent dialogue. This would apply to cases related to acts committed or political opinions expressed by such individuals, including the suspension of all charges associated with those cases. The Initiative further called for participants in the consultations and subsequent dialogue to be granted temporary procedural immunity, preventing the initiation of criminal proceedings against them from the date of their arrival in Sudan until their departure following the completion of their participation. Follow us on WhatsApp | LinkedIn for the latest headlines It also stressed that no criminal proceedings should be initiated against any individual on the basis of an opinion expressed during the consultations or dialogue, where that opinion is directly or indirectly related to the dialogue or to issues raised, or expected to be raised, during the process. The Initiative called for the creation of a broader climate of freedoms that would allow all Sudanese citizens to express their views on the dialogue, both inside and outside the dialogue venues. It also called for the protection of consultation and dialogue venues and for preventing any attempt to influence the outcome of the dialogue through the use of state authority. The Initiative emphasized that the role of the state should be limited to providing guarantees, facilitation and protection in a manner that safeguards the independence of the dialogue and ensures Sudanese ownership of its outcomes, without interference in determining its participants, agenda or results. A National Initiative for Dialogue The Initiative said its launch comes at a critical moment in Sudan's history, as the country continues to endure the devastating consequences of war, including threats to citizens' security, livelihoods, dignity and future. A group of Sudanese men and women has launched the independent national effort to prepare the conditions for a Sudanese-Sudanese dialogue and facilitate preliminary consultations. The objective is to help prevent further conflict and place the country on a path that preserves state unity, strengthens institutional stability and promotes the well-being of its citizens. The Initiative said it was founded on the conviction that the Sudanese people, who have paid a heavy price in security, stability and livelihoods, deserve a sincere national process that places their suffering at the forefront and works towards ending the war and rebuilding the state on mutually agreed national foundations. It stressed that the Initiative does not claim any representation or mandate beyond what Sudanese themselves may agree upon. Its role, it said, is confined to preparation, facilitation and consultation, with the aim of creating a conducive environment and listening to the views of different parties regarding the conditions for a comprehensive dialogue to be held inside Sudan through a purely Sudanese process. Building Trust and Consulting All Parties At this stage, the Initiative said its role is to help create a suitable environment, build confidence and facilitate