SUDAN INSIGHT ALERT: African Arguments – Why the Latest Attempt at Peacemaking in Sudan Won’t Work
Justin Lynch, a writer living in Sudan, argues that the reversal of the coup through mediation is “implausible”, with the tripartite UN-AU-IGAD mechanism argued to legitimise the coup and potentially entrench military rule with cosmetic civilian representation that would have even less power than before.
Lynch calls for western diplomats to, firstly, understand how it falls for the “traps” of the Sudan’s military, including: siphoning aid to entrench their political interests, superficial changes, cowing diplomats with threats of expulsion to prevent human rights investigations and offering “dubious” terrorism and migration intelligence
Instead, Lynch calls for western diplomats to undermine Rapid Support Forces (RSF) commander Himedti by “changing the behaviour of their diplomatic colleagues from their own nations working in the Gulf” by pressuring Gulf institutions that facilitate Himedti’s finances and use his forces, alongside reforming the export process of Sudan’s gold, and economic empowerment across Darfur.