The difficult situation in Sudan, which cannot leave anyone indifferent, has brought us together in Lomé, the capital of peace, mediation, dialogue and tolerance, for an internal work of concertation and harmonization of views on the best conditions and ways to building lasting peace out of Sudan’s crisis. At the end of two days of intense consultation, listening and understanding between you, I would like, on behalf of His Excellency Mr. Faure Essozimna GNASSINGBE, President of the Republic, the government and the hospitable people of Togo, to express to you my sincere gratitude and thanks.
By choosing to hold in Togo this consultation between you, political and military leaders of Darfur, you are showing your confidence in African leadership. This mark of confidence went straight to the heart of President Faure Essozimna GNASSINGBE, who sends his warmest greetings to all of you.
The main purpose of this consultative meeting was to enable you to discuss the impact of the war in Darfur and throughout Sudan, to exchange views in order to identify and adopt common views likely to mitigate the disastrous consequences of this war, to preserve cohesion between you and, beyond that, to find a comprehensive and lasting solution to all Sudanese crises.
Darfur is paying the highest price for the war in Sudan. Every day we learn of numerous fatalities, serious injuries, systematic human rights violations, bereaved families, massive population displacements and a difficult humanitarian situation in Darfur. As Darfurians, you have a responsibility to work for the rapid return of peace and human security to Sudan. Sudan cannot live sustainably in this situation of human distress, and the international community committed to your side is counting on your sense of humanity and human dignity, and on your ability to urgently reach agreement on the essentials, in order to put an end to the suffering of the populations and spare them any further tragic experiences in the future.
Please let me tell you a truth:
1)Togo is a neutral arbiter. Togo is far from the area, we have no interest, sorry we have only one interest:PEACE
Ready to explore YOUR solutions, to adopt the optimal path to a peaceful, stable, equitable Sudan.
It will be a PROCESS.
AND the PROCESS will require LEADERSHIP.
COMPROMISE
UNITY OF PURPOSE
EFFORT
MUTUAL ACCOUNTABILITY
2) SUDAN FIRST : Primacy of the Sudanese state must guide all efforts, discussions, solutions.
Love of country. The interest of Sudan is FUNDAMENTAL, must prevail and eclipse the interest of the SELF (be it army, SAF, RSF, Civilians, the many Forces Freedom of Change, ethnic alliances. Etc)
Resilience A Foundation: Sudanese are resilient people. Your long history of wars, revolution, political agreements attest to your resilience.
The indomitable spirit must be harnessed to build a new nation.
Leadership : Is sacrifice. Mandela. Lumumba. Nkrumah. Sankara. Put their countries first. Led their people, made difficult choices. Not through slogans or words. They made choices that changed the lives of their country men and women.
Leadershipunifies ; is Just. Visionary. Courageous.
3) Governance: The Road back to peace and prosperity.
Good governance is Not optional.
Not temporary aspiration.
Who will govern Sudan is NOT the only problem.
Proliferation of initiatives since 2021 including numerous civilian initiatives— Prime Minister Hamdok; FFC Initiative; University of Khartoum professors; etc.
Your NEW solutions must be built on COMMON INTEREST and INCLUSIVITY, not exclusion and division.
DIVERSITY—STRATEGIC ADVANTAGE : Sudan is racially, ethnically religiously, linguistically, and culturally diverse.
I have heard Sudan is UNIQUE.
Its uniqueness is a wealth and is should be a strategic benefit. Not the Achilles heels to Sudan’s development.
INTENTIONALITY : You must be intentional in seeking governance, good governance.
You must be intentional in identifying, addressing and redressing the real root causes of Sudan persistent political instability.
Ceasefire, Cessation of Hostilities peace accords and political agreements/ temporary political accommodations are necessary. BUT INSUFFICIENT. And are only part of the solution.
The question of IDENTITY, equal citizenship must be resolved.
Establishing a civilian, democratic Sudanwhere peace, respect for human rights and freedoms, justice and equality, rule of law prevail, is achievable.
But requires your leadership, political will to craft a new political dispensation, guided by a SUDAN FIRST approach.
4) SUDAN REBUILT (A la recherche du Soudan Perdu):
To rebuild is A choice.
5) ALL LOSERS : No winner regardless of who wins on the battle field.
Impact: Need years to reverse the long-term political, Socio-Economic, psychological, repercussions of the war.
Destruction of human life;
Infrastructures,
Diplomatic relations
Destruction of beautiful intangible cultural heritage.
Destruction of the HOPE- aspirations of the 2018 revolution, the gains of end of dictatorship.
Legacy: Sudan synonymous with perpetual theater of war, Genocide, Failed Revolutions. Coup d’Etats, Instability, Continental/Multilateral Sanctions.
Dear delegates,
Amadou HAMPÂTÉ BÂ, a great African sage, whom you certainly know, said: « The great problem of life is mutual understanding ». You agreed to take an active part in this consultative dialogue, during which you have given the best of yourselves, going beyond your positions of principle, to seek common ground; to build a consensus around possible solutions to the conflict.
I would therefore like to say a special THANK YOU and express my delight at the results of this consultation meeting. Allow me to recall, however, that there is no peace that is not based on the inclusion of all and the respect for the dignity of every individual.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
We are all quite aware that the hardest part is yet to come. There is still a long way to go to reach a final and definitive peace agreement that will give Sudan every chance to regain stability and get back on the path of development. But with unwavering determination and ongoing commitment, we will get there; you will get there. Nelson Mandelasaid: “The greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time you fall.”
I cannot fail to mention the efforts made by the Sudanese central government to bring peace to the country. Allow me, therefore, to salute the spirit of openness shown by General Abdel Fattah Al-Bourhane, the Sudanese authorities and armed forces, and the members of parliament, who have committed themselves with determination to the cause of peace in your country by actively participating in the peace process led by the United States and Saudi Arabia in Jeddah.
The Lomé initiative is far from being the duplication or a framework likely to eclipse the many initiatives already taken, namely the Jeddah process and recently the Cairo process. These processes, which have the full support of President Faure Essozimna GNASSINGBE, are serious avenues for finding negotiated solutions that offer hope for the future of Sudan.
The Lomé meeting is an initiative that reflects the confidence placed in Togo. It is therefore intended as a catalyst for the ongoing peace process, in the hope that this contribution will enable us to reach a lasting peace agreement in Jeddah under the best possible conditions and within the shortest possible timeframe. We wish you a safe journey home.
May God bless our peoples and touch the hearts of the various protagonists for the return to a united, peaceful and prosperous Sudan.
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