President of the Transitional Sovereignty Council (TSC) and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, General Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, affirmed that the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) are continuing efforts to complete the cleansing of Sudanese territory of the rebellion of the terrorist Al-Dagalo militia, stressing that the firm resolve and clear determination to fight and defeat the rebel militia do not mean turning a blind eye to any sincere peace initiative. In a speech marking the 72nd anniversary of the Sudanese Armed Forces, Al-Burhan said efforts to achieve peace had continued since the early months of the rebellion, but stressed that Sudan would not accept an incomplete peace or one that would return criminals, killers, the Al-Dagalo militia and its supporters to power or enable them to participate in it. He explained that the government’s position since May 2023 had been clear: the path to peace begins with the militia laying down its arms and assembling in designated areas, the return of citizens to their homes, and the restoration of normal life, including services, security, protection and monitoring, after which the status of non-criminal combatants would be considered.  On the political front, Al-Burhan said that, in recognition of the national and sectoral forces that had supported the Sudanese state and its unity and institutions, he had begun dialogue with them on involving them in completing the state’s governing institutions, namely the Legislative Council, as a constitutional entitlement. He explained that these forces had paid a heavy price, alongside the Armed Forces and the Sudanese people as a whole, and had stood side by side with the Armed Forces despite the sharp political divisions and ideological extremism over Sudan’s various and contested issues among political and societal forces, which have continued to meet and disperse between the capitals of different countries, with some acting on non-national directives and agendas. The TSC President added that, amid this troubled political reality, a national group of Sudanese men and women had, on its own initiative, come together to launch an initiative based on the firm conviction that overcoming this ordeal can only be achieved through an exclusively Sudanese dialogue originating from within Sudan, encompassing all political and societal forces and placing citizens’ suffering and their right to peace at the forefront of its objectives. He noted that the group had presented its vision of working as an independent national mechanism to prepare for an inclusive Sudanese dialogue aimed at achieving broad national consensus and putting the country on the path to stability. Al-Burhan said he had met with the group, which presented its vision, stressed its independence and openness to all, and requested a number of guarantees from the state necessary for convening the dialogue, facilitating the participation of its parties and protecting their safety. He agreed to these guarantees and affirmed the state’s readiness to provide the necessary logistical support and legal, political and security guarantees, without the state being the body organizing the dialogue or determining its agenda or outcomes, out of respect for its independence and in order to preserve its national credibility. He said that any dialogue concerning Sudan’s internal affairs cannot ignore the need for political, legal and security guarantees, stressing that such guarantees do not mean that the state owns the dialogue, determines its participants, sets its agenda, controls its outcomes or provides political sponsorship for it. Al-Burhan explained that any action taken by the state against a participant in the dialogue would not constitute an amnesty, but rather a suspension of criminal proceedings previously initiated against that participant. He noted that amnesty, in the strict legal sense, presupposes a conviction, and therefore the dropping of charges should not be portrayed as an exemption from responsibility if the person is found guilty, but rather as the termination of criminal proceedings that have not yet resulted in a conviction. He added that suspending proceedings against dialogue participants in cases where the complainant or rights-holder is a private individual or entity does not constitute a final waiver of that party’s rights, but rather a temporary procedural immunity required to create appropriate conditions for dialogue and ensure that participants can take part without fear of legal action that could hinder their participation. The TSC President stressed that such temporary procedural immunity would have no effect on the substantive rights of the parties concerned or on the final outcome of the proceedings, and that once the reason for the suspension ceases to exist, the proceedings would resume in accordance with the law. Regarding immunity for opinions and positions expressed during the dialogue, Al-Burhan said the guarantees for participants would include full and permanent legal immunity preventing any criminal, civil or administrative proceedings from being taken against any participant under any law where the basis for such proceedings is an opinion, position, proposal or statement expressed by the participant within the framework of the dialogue sessions or in connection with them. He added that this protection would extend to statements made freely by participants during the discussions, such that their statements or opinions expressed during the dialogue could not subsequently be used as a basis for filing a criminal report, bringing a lawsuit or taking any legal action against them. He explained that the purpose of this immunity is to ensure freedom and candour in the dialogue and enable participants to express their views and positions without fear that their participation in the dialogue or anything they say during it could become a source of legal accountability. Al-Burhan stressed that the success of the dialogue depends not only on providing guarantees to its participants, but also on creating a general climate of freedoms that enables citizens and political and societal forces, including those not directly participating in the dialogue sessions, to freely express their views and positions on the issues under discussion. He said the national dialogue should not be a closed process limited to those seated at the dialogue table, but should take place in an open public space that allows society to engage with it and express views on its issues and outcomes, whether criticizing or supporting them, without fear or restriction. The TSC President affirmed that the Armed Forces are determined to develop their capabilities to enable them to confront various internal and external challenges, and that they are proceeding with determination, confidence and an understanding of present and future requirements. He said the Armed Forces would work to achieve harmony among the people, the army and the elites in order to complete the process of stability, noting that the army and the people are now at the highest level of harmony and that the forthcoming dialogue would complete the triangle of stability. Al-Burhan said the Sudanese people had endured pain and overcome fear in defense of the idea of the nation, stressing that it was incumbent upon the Armed Forces to make every sacrifice so that the Sudanese people could walk upright and hold their heads high, protected and defended by their Armed Forces. He saluted and congratulated the soldiers, fighters and those stationed on various battlefronts, who carry the concerns of a united Sudan and endure the ferocity and hardship of the battles on behalf of the people. The SAF Commander-in-Chief renewed his pledge to internally displaced persons (IDPs) and refugees that they would return to their homeland, affirming that their return would be a return without further displacement or fear. Al-Burhan expressed thanks to the brotherly and friendly countries that had supported Sudan and its people in their just cause and supported its legitimate institutions. He also thanked the Armed Forces and their mobile formations, the General Intelligence Service and the Police, the Joint Forces and their supporters, the Popular Resistance, Sudan Shield, the supporting forces and brigades.He also thanked the executive authorities, ministries and various state institutions, as well as civil support committees working in services, takayas and shelters, affirming that all would move forward together under the banner of Sudan.He concluded his speech with the words: “Allah, the Nation, the Army,” “Victory is ours — may the eyes of the cowards never sleep,” and “A victory from Allah and a near conquest.”BH/BH