Lieutenant General Abdel Fattah Al Burhan, Chairman of the Sovereignty Council of the Republic of Sudan is being interviewed by Deputy CEO of Dar Al Sharq Group Jaber Al Harami.
Doha: Lieutenant General Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, Chairman of the Sovereignty Council in the Republic of Sudan, praised the State of Qatar’s position towards Sudan and its people, and its interest in establishing peace and stability.
He lauded prominent Qatari role played in Darfur peace, which led to the signing of the Doha Peace Document, and the subsequent implementation of development and reconstruction projects.
Al-Burhan – who is set to visit Doha on Friday – in a comprehensive interview with the Dar Al Sharq Media newspapers, said that he will discuss with Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani strengthening strategic partnerships and advancing areas of joint cooperation and economic integration between the two brotherly countries in order to achieve the aspirations of two brotherly peoples.
The head of the Sudanese Sovereignty Council also noted Qatar’s hosting of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, describing it as an “exceptional and historic event” and a “source of pride for the Arab nations”.
With regard to the internal situation in Sudan, the head of the Sovereignty Council said that there are positive signs of hope for a consensus being reached and a civilian government being formed to help prepare the environment for elections.
He pointed out that Sudan is currently going through major challenges, and is in the process of an exceptional transitional phase.
Al-Burhan also stressed that the military institution will abide by the framework agreement and will support the desired democratic transition process and will exit from the political scene.
The Sudanese Sovereignty Council chairman did not disclose the exact date of the elections, only stating that “after the end of the transitional period, the elections will be determined,” voicing rejection at the same time for any regional or international interference in Sudanese affairs.
Regarding the exclusion of all Islamists from the political process, Al-Burhan said that there are no restrictions on any political organisation during the transitional period except the banned National Congress Party (NCP), which everybody had agreed on excluding.
He also discussed Sudan’s relations with neighboring countries; US-Sudanese relations after Sudan’s name had been lifted from the State Sponsor of Terrorism list; normalisation with Israel; relations with Gulf countries and other issues.
Lieutenant General Abdel Fattah Al Burhan, Chairman of the Sovereignty Council of the Republic of Sudan, with Deputy CEO of Dar Al Sharq Group Jaber Al Harami.
Talking on the strength of Qatar-Sudan relations, Al-Burhan said Sudan-Qatar relations have historical roots and have been bound by old, solid relations, brought together by bonds of brotherhood and love. “There exist constant communications between the leaderships of both countries to support and enhance what benefits both brotherly nations. These communications have verified the alignment of both countries’ positions in a number of regional and international issues.”
“Here, we must praise the State of Qatar and its positions towards Sudan and its people and its interest in establishing peace and stability throughout its [Sudan’s] territory, as well as Qatar’s role in Darfur peace through it hosting and sponsoring the peace negotiations that led to the signing of the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur, as well Qatar’s subsequent implementation of development and reconstruction projects, during which many projects have been implemented in the fields of development, educational and health services, in addition to other services and utilities. Qatar is still ensuring the implementation of these projects,” he added.
He said that the State of Qatar continued its support for Sudan during the peace negotiations in Juba and its participation in the signing of the Juba peace agreement with some factions.
“Sudan is keen to continue developing relations with the State of Qatar and to support bilateral cooperation, brotherhood, and the exchange of benefits within the framework of strengthening Sudan’s foreign relations in this transitional phase and building them on good and excellent foundations.”
To a question about details of his visit to Doha (tomorrow) and the issues which are expected to be discussed with Qatari leadership, Al-Burhan said: “We will be visiting Doha to oblige an official invitation to participate in Fifth United Nations Conference of the Least Developed Countries set to be hosted at the Qatari capital Doha, the beginning of the coming March. The visit will present an opportunity to hold bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the conference with the Qatari command to research ways to further strategic partnerships and advance areas of joint cooperation and economic integration in order to achieve the aspirations of the two brotherly peoples.”
He said Qatar is a pioneer in organising regional and international conferences, and “we hope that the conference will achieve its desired goals” in service of the lesser developed countries.
He said that Qatar also hosted an exceptional and historic World Cup and dazzled everyone. “It was a source of pride for the Arab nations.”
On Qatari support in the Sudanese investment market and about future investment possibilities, Al-Burhan said that the role the State of Qatar played in supporting economic relations with Sudan and its establishment of many investment projects in various fields must be commended.
“Some of these projects have encountered difficulties due to conditions in Sudan and the accompanying regime change. We are currently working on developing solutions in investment laws and facilitating and simplifying procedures, leading to the establishment of guarantees for foreign investments in general, including Qatari investments, and hopefully leading to a stronger economic partnership between Qatar and Sudan, with an emphasis on the role of the joint committee between the two countries and the need to activate it.”
To another question about Sudan’s current position after passage of three years after revolution, he said that there are positive signs that call for optimism in a consensus being soon reached and a civil government being formed to prepare the climate for elections.
Talking of multiple challenges including political crisis, he said that there are parties that wish to destroy the Sudanese state through tribal infighting, regional wars, and questioning the leadership and the army. “Sudan is facing great challenges, and is going through an exceptional transitional phase that requires all Sudanese national forces to accomplish the tasks of the transitional period.”
The way out of the current crisis, Al-Burhan said, requires a sincere national will, from everyone, to help find solutions that lead to a real national consensus.
“We renew the military institution’s commitment to the framework agreement and its support for the desired democratic transition process and its exit from the political scene... and it will work with all parties and persuade those opposed to it to reach a final agreement that paves the way for a civilian government that will usher the country to elections by the end of the transitional period. We call on the international community to fulfill their obligation to the political transition and to provide aid and assistance to Sudan.”
When asked that many political and societal forces complaining about the presence of deep, foreign interference in Sudanese affairs and whether they were just fears and political exaggerations, he said: “We reject any regional and international interference in Sudanese affairs, and any conditional external support or aid.”
“The political situation is tense and the country cannot tolerate further turmoil and political tensions. We strongly reject this, and we absolutely do not accept solutions that come from outside.”
On the efforts made by the international envoy, Volker, as nears end of his tenure, Al-Burhan said that the presence of the UN Mission to Support the Transition in Sudan (UNITAMS), headed by Volker Perthes, came at the request of the government of Sudan.
“The purpose of the mission is to assist Sudan in the transitional process it is going through, and advance the peace process in the country by assisting and encouraging the armed struggle movements to engage in it.”
He said that the role of this mission is limited to facilitating dialogue between the Sudanese to ensure sustainable stability for the transitional period as well as the mobilization of resources and support for the implementation of the peace agreement.
Responding to a question about possible date of election, he said that elections are the only way for democratic transformation. “We believe in the process of civil democratic transition. Our siding with the glorious December Revolution is an affirmation of our belief in the will of our people towards democracy and the rule of law. After the transitional period ends, elections will be decided.”
He called on the political forces to prepare for this stage by building their organisational structures and organising their cadres and bases. “Election is a complex process that requires early preparation from all political parties and organisations.”
On the exclusion of Islamists from the political process, Al-Burhan said that there is no restriction on any political organisation during the transitional period except the National Congress, which was agreed by everyone to exclude it because of its thirty years of power.
“The people themselves isolated the National Congress and we are at the will of the Sudanese people. We are with consensus and we want to go on the transitional period smoothly to achieve the goals of Glorious Revolution of December in freedom, peace and justice.”
Talking about dismantling the June 30 Regime, he said: “We are with dismantling the June 30, 1989 Regime because it is a basic requirement of the Glorious December Revolution. We came to implement the will of the people in the previous period. The committee made a lot of mistakes and created confusion about its work methodology, so its decisions were not withheld by the judiciary and the justice system.”
He added: “We are with the dismantling of the June 30, 1989 Regime, but according to the law and proper procedures, given that the revolution came for justice and the correct foundations must be followed in dismantling operations to safeguard the rights of all.”
To another question about Egypt putting forward an initiative to bring the political parties, he said that the initiative Egypt put forward to bring the Sudanese parties closer comes within the framework of Egypt’s pivotal role to solve the current crisis to a Sudanese-Sudanese dialogue that ultimately leads to a real, permanent and comprehensive settlement.
“We look positively for the numerous initiatives that work to achieve national reconciliation, hoping that the initiatives will result in a broad consensus that facilitates the process of democratic transition and leads to fair and transparent elections and all political forces must participate in the dialogue process and involve them in the framework agreement.”
On Sudan and Ethiopia ties, he said that relations with Ethiopia are developed, durable and historical, based on good neighborhood and exchange of interests. “We work to preserve and develop it by addressing the disputes with dialogue and understanding. We seek to reach joint understandings regarding the border conflict, in order to achieve the interest of the two brotherly peoples.”
He said that there is continuous coordination and consultation between the two leaderships in everything related to the bilateral aspects between them, and joint coordination in regional and international issues.
Talking on ties with the US and removal from terrorism list, he said: “Relations with the US are important and the two sides seek to support and develop these relations ... Several steps took place during the last period in order to support relations and the important steps included removing the name of Sudan from the list of countries that sponsor terrorism, restoring diplomatic representation between the two countries to the level of ambassadors.”
On prospects of investment in Sudan, he said that investments are the nerve of life for the economy. “We always strive to create an investment environment. The government is currently working on reviewing all laws related to investment, in the context of the efforts made by the state to encourage investment and attract foreign capital to Sudan, given the huge capabilities and resources that Sudan enjoys in various fields.”
When asked whether normalisation of ties with Israel was a price for removing Sudan from the US terrorist list, he said: “We manage our foreign relations in the way that achieves the interests of Sudan, without submitting to an agenda that comes to us from abroad.”
On Sudan-Gulf ties, he said that the relations between Sudan and the Gulf states are witnessing a positive development. “It is based on joint cooperation and exchange of interests, and they are distinguished and deep rooted relationships.”
“Sudan is keen to establish an integrative, strategic and economic relationship with all the Gulf states ... Sudan pursues a flexible foreign policy to achieve the common interest, and to enhance strategic partnerships ... we appreciate the positions of the Gulf states supporting Sudan and their keenness on democratic transformation and achieving the desired development in Sudan.”
To a question about security in the capital Khartoum, he said that it is true that there is some security laps as a result of the crisis in the country, but not as some depict it. “We have a tight mechanism and coordination between the security system to confront these faults and confront tribal conflicts and collect weapons from the hands of citizens.”
To another question about unrest on the Sudanese street due to economic crisis, he said that the economic situation posing the biggest challenges for us. “The government to be formed must make comprehensive economic reforms to end and stop the economic deterioration.”
