11 April commemoration – Statement by the group of Friends of Sudan
On the second anniversary of the fall of the former authoritarian regime, which opened a new era for Sudan with the establishment of a civilian-led transitional government, we salute the Sudanese people’s courage and commitment to securing democratic governance, respect for human rights and peace. The civilian-led transitional government has made remarkable progress in reaching peace agreements with armed opposition groups and in overcoming Sudan’s internal conflicts, corrupt governance, and economic challenges.
As members of the Friends of Sudan, we (European Union, France, Germany, Norway, Saudi Arabia, Sweden, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, and the United States) are committed to working with the Sudanese people and their transitional government led by Prime Minister Hamdok to implement the transformative tasks outlined in the August 2019 Constitutional Decree. We have provided sustained political and financial support as Sudan rolls out the Family Support Program (Thamarat), implements the Juba Peace Agreement, secures debt relief and rejoins the international community. We believe further progress in addressing the root causes of Sudan’s many challenges require the formation now of an inclusive Transitional Legislative Council.
We also encourage the transitional government to strengthen its efforts to protect civilians, adopt an effective anti-corruption law, begin the constitution drafting process and start preparing for elections to mark the successful conclusion of the transition period in early 2024.
We will continue to support the efforts of the Sudanese people to achieve peace, inclusive economic growth, and democratic governance with full participation of women and youth. The Paris conference in May will be an important occasion to reinforce our partnership with the Sudanese people and their transitional government.