‘Sudan teetering on the edge of total collapse’, warns SPLM-N El Hilu Sec-Gen

Ammar Daldoum, secretary-general of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North under the leadership of Abdelaziz El Hilu (SPLM-N El Hilu) gave a candid interview with Radio Dabanga during the founding conference of the Civil Democratic Forces (Tagadom) in Addis Ababa last week, stressing that the solution lies in adopting secularism and separating religion from the state.

Daldoum warned that continued arrogance and intransigence could lead to “Sudan teetering on the edge of total collapse”.

He noted the efforts of the SPLM-N El Hilu preserving Sudan’s unity and urging the government in Port Sudan to accept its proposed solutions. the SPLM-N El Hilu has presented a clear negotiating position addressing the historical roots of Sudan’s problems, but these negotiations were abruptly halted by a coup by the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support forces in October 2021. 

SPLM-N El Hilu insists that the Sudanese de facto government in Port Sudan must “courageously confront and address these issues, recognising the country’s diversity as a path to preventing total collapse”.

Vision

When asked about the SPLM-N El Hilu’s vision for resolving the Sudanese crisis, Daldoum outlined a stark history of civil war over the past 69 years, primarily driven by the central government’s refusal to manage and recognise Sudan’s diversity. He accused successive central governments of using religion and Arab identity to divide the populace. 

He warned that if the central government continues on this path, Sudan risks partition—a prospect the SPLM-N El Hilu does not desire. He reiterated that the movement advocates for secularism to resolve the conflict between religion and state. “Religion should not be a determining factor in the national identity of Sudan.”

Should there be any resistance to implementing secularism, he emphasised that SPLM-N El Hilu supports the right of all “Sudanese peoples and regions to determine their own future”.

Constitutional principles

Daldoum conveyed a message to the Sudanese people, urging them to strive to keep Sudan united by addressing the full historical roots of its problems with courage and formulating solutions based on *supra-constitutional principles. 

These principles, as outlined by the movement’s secretary-general, include secularism, fundamental rights, and the rejection of military coups. He stressed that these principles must be enshrined in the constitution, remaining inviolable and unchangeable.

By adhering to these principles, Daldoum believes Sudan can find a radical solution to its longstanding problems, ensuring that the country does not descend into further conflict and war.

*The principles of supra-constitutionality mean that there are rules that supersede constitutional edict, and in turn choose what can or cannot be included. In a sense, it is akin to a guiding ethos that provides a failsafe against tyranny.