Thank you, Madam President, and thank you, SRSG Volker, for your comprehensive briefing.
The United States welcomes the announcement by Sudanese parties of an initial political framework agreement. This is an essential first step toward re-establishing Sudan’s democratic transition. There is now a credible path to a final agreement that would take Sudan out of its current political crisis.
We commend parties’ efforts to garner support for this framework agreement from a broad range of Sudanese actors and their plans for an additional phase for continued, inclusive dialogue on key issues of concern. But time is of the essence. We urge all Sudanese actors to engage in dialogue in good faith and to establish a civilian-led transitional government as soon as possible.
We fully support the UNITAMS-AU-IGAD role in facilitating the next phase of dialogue and concluding negotiations.
The United States reiterates the need for the Sudanese government – including the military and security services – to fully respect the freedoms of association, expression, and peaceful assembly. The government and military must also fulfill their responsibility to protect the population and hold accountable those responsible for violence against civilians.
We call on the government to create a more conducive environment for negotiations by releasing political detainees, ceasing violence against protesters, and reversing recent administrative decisions that undermine the Sudanese Bar Association and other professional organizations.
The United States condemns the actions of spoilers inside and outside Sudan attempting to restrict political space and undermine Sudan’s stability and democratic transition. Similarly, we condemn recent violence, to which the SRSG just referred, in Darfur and Blue Nile states, which exacerbates the dire humanitarian situation and erodes the gains of the Juba Peace Agreement.
This violence demonstrates the urgent need to implement the Agreement, including security sector reform; robust international monitoring and reporting mechanisms; the full deployment of Security Keeping Forces in Darfur; and comprehensive, inclusive, and transparent transitional justice processes.
I thank you, Madam President.
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