Media statement:The Institute for Justice and Reconciliation expresses its solidarity with the People of Sudan and calls for the Restoration of Constitutional Democracy and the Rule of Law
10 June 2019
The Institute for Justice and Reconciliation (IJR) strongly condemns the violence in Sudan in response to the citizen movement for a restoration of democracy and the rule of law. Over 100 pro-democratic demonstrators have been killed, and a further 500 injured, by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The RSF is led by General Mohamed “Hemeti” Dagalo, the Deputy Leader of the Transitional Military Council (TMC), which assumed power through a coup d’etat, in April 2019.
IJR also welcomes the African Union’s (AU) suspension of Sudan’s from its membership. The Africa Union’s suspension is in line with Article 30 of the Constitutive Act of the organisation, which rejects the unconstitutional changes of government. On 6th June 2019, the AU’s Peace and Security Council (PSC) in suspending Sudan from its activities, criticised the actions of the Military Council and condemned the wide ranging human rights violations that it has perpetrated. Khartoum is experiencing its worst violence since December 2018, and the violations will create serious challenges for the prospects of building peace in the country.
IJR appeals to the authorities in Sudan to recognize and adopt the African Union Transitional Justice Policy, adopted in February 2019, which calls for societies across the continent “to come to terms with the traumas of slavery, colonialism, systematic repression and civil wars”, by developing “mechanisms to deal with the past and ongoing grievances” in order to “encourage and facilitate peacebuilding and reconciliation activities from national to grassroots levels” (pp.1-2). Furthermore, the Institute acknowledges that the multiple years of oppressive regimes in Sudan, have generated a legacy of historical violations, which continue to traumatise the citizens across the society.
The IJR stands ready to partner with the African Union, and other willing actors, to support processes which will address the injustices of the past and encourage the Sudanese authorities to restore constitutional order and the right of citizens to determine their leaders, so that it can regain its place in the community of nations that respect democracy and the rule of law.
Visit www.ijr.org.za or contact Niv Bachu on 021 202 4071 or nbachu@ijr.org.za for further