The Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) and El Sahwa Revolutionary Council led by Musa Hilal have agreed on political cooperation ‘to establish a democratic system in Sudan’.

SPLM-N is active primarily in South Kordofan and southern Blue Nile, and El Sahwa is active primarily in North Darfur.

The leader of El Sahwa is the son-in-law of Chadian president Idriss Deby and commander of militia sometimes popularly referred to as ‘janjaweed.’ He has engaged in a power struggle with the North Darfur governor after leaving a post as presidential advisor in Khartoum.

In a joint press statement issued on Friday, the SPLM-N and El Sahwa Council announced that they agreed to “end the wars in all parts of Sudan,” “bring down the totalitarian regime,” and establish a democratic system in the country.

The two agreed to a Memorandum of Understanding on Thursday, signed by Jagoud Mikwar Murada for the SPLM-N and Ismail Aghbash for El Sahwa Revolutionary Council.

In the MoU, the parties emphasise that they will seek to “stop the policies of divide and rule, by setting up Sudanese tribes against each other”, and work on restoring Sudan’s social fabric, “destroyed by the Khartoum regime”.

They will cooperate in establishing a “state based on good governance and citizenship, on equal rights and duties for every Sudanese, without discrimination”. This is to be realised through a “comprehensive constitutional process, conducive to change”.

Reporting by Radio Dabanga

News photo: Ismail Aghbash (L) and Jagoud Mikwar Murada after signing the MoU