The Sudanese Alliance for Rights welcomes the signing of the Sudan Founding Charter on 23 February 2025 in Nairobi, Kenya, as a step toward a new era of peace, justice, and democracy in Sudan. This Charter reflects the aspirations of the Sudanese people for a nation built on equality, human rights, and accountable governance. We further note the adoption of the Sudan Transitional Constitution by the Sudan Founding Alliance on 4 March 2025, which provides a legal framework that must guide and govern the implementation of the Charter.
However, we must acknowledge that Sudan has seen many such commitments over the years—each raising hopes but ultimately falling short due to a lack of political will, incomplete implementation, and the failure to follow through on promises made. The people of Sudan have repeatedly endured cycles of authoritarianism, conflict, and unfulfilled promises. Some key examples of these failed commitments include:
- The Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) of 2005– This agreement ended the Second Sudanese Civil War and led to South Sudan’s independence. However, failure to implement provisions on governance, wealth-sharing, and justice resulted in continued instability in both Sudan and South Sudan.
- The Doha Document for Peace in Darfur (2011)– While intended to bring peace to Darfur, the agreement excluded key rebel groups and was poorly implemented, leading to ongoing violence and displacement.
- The 2019 Sudanese Revolution and Power-Sharing Agreement– Despite initial hopes for democratic transition, military interference and economic challenges prevented its full realization, leading to the 2021 coup.
- The Juba Peace Agreement (2020)– Signed to address conflicts in Darfur, the Blue Nile, and South Kordofan, this agreement faced slow implementation, continued violence, and a lack of political will, making lasting peace elusive.
- The Constitutional Declaration (2019)– Designed to transition Sudan to civilian rule, the agreement was undermined by a lack of accountability and eventual military intervention.
The Sudan Founding Charter presents an opportunity to break this cycle of broken promises. We particularly welcome its provisions on federalism and human rights, as they offer a framework for a more just and inclusive Sudan.
The Charter establishes Sudan as a secular, democratic, and decentralized state (Article 3), ensuring that power is shared equitably among regions. It guarantees:
- A genuine decentralized governance system that allows regions to manage their own political, economic, and cultural affairs (Article 13).
- Fair distribution of resources among all states to promote balanced development (Article 25).
- A new, professional, and national army that represents Sudan’s diversity and is free from political or regional influence (Article 14).
We commend these provisions, as they align with the Sudanese Alliance for Rights’ vision of a peaceful and prosperous Sudan where all regions are fairly represented and empowered to shape their future.
The Charter enshrines fundamental human rights, including:
- Commitment to international human rights treaties and protections for freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, and access to information (Article 11).
- Ending impunity and ensuring justice, including accountability for crimes against humanity and extradition of those wanted by the International Criminal Court (Article 18).
- Protection of women’s rights and guarantees for their equal participation in state institutions (Article 23).
- Recognition of Sudan’s diverse identities and rejection of discrimination based on ethnicity, religion, or regional affiliation (Articles 8 and 9).
These commitments are crucial to establishing a nation built on justice, equality, and respect for all citizens. However, their success depends on political will, strong institutions, and full implementation.
The Sudan Founding Charter has been accompanied by the release of a new transitional constitution—a welcome development that demonstrates a commitment to building a legal foundation for governance, justice, and equality. This is a significant step forward, as past political frameworks have often lacked a clear constitutional basis, contributing to instability and unmet expectations.
For the Charter to deliver meaningful change, it must be implemented in full alignment with this newly adopted Sudan Transitional Constitution (2025). This Constitution provides a critical legal and moral framework that reinforces the values of justice, equality, and the rule of law, which are central to both the Charter and the Sudanese people’s aspirations.
Article 4 affirms the supremacy of the Constitution, stating:
“The Constitution shall be the supreme law of the Republic of Sudan and shall prevail over any other law inconsistent with its provisions.”
This article establishes the legal obligation for all actors—whether military, political, or civilian—to align their actions with constitutional principles. The Sudan Founding Charter must therefore be implemented in ways that uphold and reflect this supremacy.
Article 15 speaks directly to the heart of the Sudanese struggle for equal treatment and dignity:
“All persons are equal before the law and have the right to equal protection and equal benefit of the law without discrimination.”
This includes protections against discrimination on the basis of race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, birth, disability, or other status. The Sudanese Alliance for Rights calls for these principles to be embedded at every stage of the Charter’s implementation—especially in the design of governance systems, distribution of resources, and protection of civil liberties.
Article 26 reaffirms the right to justice and due process, stating:
“Every person has the right to have any dispute resolved by a competent, independent, and impartial court of law, or other tribunal or body established by law.”“All persons shall be equal before courts of law and tribunals.”“The State shall guarantee fair trial and the right to legal aid for those who cannot afford legal services.”
This is especially critical given Sudan’s long history of impunity and arbitrary detention. For the Charter to deliver on its promise of justice, mechanisms for accountability must be fully established, independent, and accessible to all—particularly survivors of conflict, women, and historically marginalised communities.
The Sudanese Alliance for Rights urges all actors to view the Charter not as an isolated political agreement, but as one firmly grounded in the newly adopted constitutional framework. For the Charter to bring lasting change, its implementation must reflect and uphold the supreme law of the land—the Sudan Transitional Constitution (2025). We look forward to seeing this Constitution not only upheld in principle but actively guide the rollout of the Charter’s provisions—particularly on federalism, justice, human rights, and military reform. Aligning political commitments with constitutional obligations is essential to securing equality, justice, and the rule of law for all Sudanese.
The Sudanese Alliance for Rights urges all signatories to prioritize:
- Ending the war and protecting civilians, ensuring humanitarian access.
- Implementing the Charter’s provisions in full, with transparent mechanisms for accountability.
- Engaging civil society and communities to ensure Sudan’s governance reflects the will of its people.
This effort ties directly into our mission—a peaceful and prosperous Sudan in which the rights of every individual are accounted for, upheld, and respected. The Sudan Founding Charter embodies these same aspirations, but its success depends on collective effort, vigilance, and sustained pressure to ensure it becomes more than just another aspirational document. To achieve meaningful change, it must be grounded in and guided by the supreme law of the land—the Sudan Transitional Constitution.
The Sudanese Alliance for Rights remains committed to holding all actors accountable in this journey toward a just, democratic, and peaceful Sudan.