In mid-May, Agar, a veteran Sudanese politician and former insurgency leader, was appointed by General Abdel-Fattah Al-Burhan as depuuty chairman of the TSC.
Ahram Online: Please give us a brief overview of the discussion you had with President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi and Egyptian officials?
Malik Agar: The purpose of my visit was mainly to discuss the humanitarian situation. Currently, we are seeking assistance from Egypt in overcoming the difficulties faced by the Sudanese citizens stranded at the Egyptian borders. Visa issuance has been delayed. A significant number of people are in need of urgent support at the borders. So we are requesting an acceleration of the visa issuance process.
AO: What was the response from the Egyptian side?
MA: The response was very positive. The Egyptian side has already started taking practical steps to facilitate and expedite the document and visa issuance process.
AO: What other issues did you discuss in your meetings?
MA: We discussed the humanitarian situation within Sudan. Egypt has certain capabilities which can alleviate the situation for the Sudanese people.
We exchanged opinions on how to resolve the conflict. We also discussed the ramifications of the crisis in Sudan on Egypt.
AO: What are these ramifications in your opinion?
MA: The stability of Sudan directly impacts Egypt. The country has millions of Sudanese residing within its borders. It has received hundreds of thousands of Sudanese refugees since the conflict started.
AO: You have criticized the African Union's initiatives and some provisions in the IGAD initiative and even the Jeddah initiative to end the conflict. Why?
MA: It is natural to have numerous initiatives from different parties in a world based on political and economic interests. Each party has its own goals and interests and some do seek the security and stability of Sudan.
We support any initiative that respects Sudan's unity, sovereignty and its national institutions. Any initiative that does not respect these principles, or includes articles which do not do that or do not respect our institutions, will be rejected.
AO: Do you mean articles that do not exclude the continued presence of separate armed forces or the creation of so called disarmament zones in the country?
MA: The existence of disarmament zones - or zones with foreign forces or ones with armed militias - in Sudan is unacceptable. This is unacceptable to any country and not just to the Sudanese people.
We reject such disarmament zones on behalf of the Sudanese people.
According to the 2020 Juba Agreement, Sudan must have one army that respects Sudanese pluralism. Having more than one army destabilizes the country.
We had a schedule and timeframe to implement the political process. And we refuse a return to the status quo, which led to this war in the first place.
AO: Have any initiatives been proposed to you that align with your vision on this issue?
MA: There have been numerous initiatives. Some of them did not align with our insistence on the sovereignty of the state. We rejected these ones. Other initiatives have elements that are acceptable to us.
AO: You have previously emphasized the need for General Burhan and Hemedti to meet face-to-face to discuss a resolution to the conflict. What is preventing such meeting from taking place till now?
MA: It is natural that any parties in a conflict must meet and discuss the issues. The Rapid Support Forces and the Armed Forces will meet face-to-face around the negotiation table.
AO: Why such a meeting didn't take place, is something preventing it?
MA: Nothing is preventing it. It has not taken place yet – simply.
AO: Have you spoken with Hemedti since you replaced him in the position of the deputy chairman of the Transitional Sovereignty Council?
MA: I didn’t assume this position as a replacement for him. I assumed an official position in the Sudanese state not as a substitute for him or anyone else.
AO: Have you had any contact with him since taking office?
MA: Yes, there has been contact.
Can you share the substance of that contact with us?
MA: I can’t.
AO: What is your assessment of the situation on the ground?
MA: The situation is catastrophic in Khartoum since the Rapid Support Forces are deployed in residential areas and hospitals.
Khartoum is receiving some aid but Darfur is suffering utterly. The situation in Darfur is worse than in Khartoum with alarming death tolls. Darfur has become completely isolated and thousands are fleeing to countries to the east of Sudan.
AO: Multiple ceasefires have not been holding. Why is that?
MA: Because ceasefires have been lacking. They have been lacking clear implementation mechanisms. What is required is withdrawal of armed forces from specific areas. However, under these ceasefires we do not know how and when the forces will move from Point A to Point B.
AO: What steps can be taken to overcome this dilemma which has persisted for months?
MA: We can overcome this through dialogue, negotiation and talking. We need a meeting between the parties at the negotiation table to discuss and agree on steps.
Is there also a discussion taking place with civilian and political forces?
MA: We had a schedule and timeframe to implement the political process.
There is nothing beautiful about war. All political forces reject the current situation. Civilian and political forces will be a key partner when negotiations begin to address the Sudanese issue.
The Sudanese issue cannot be addressed without the involvement of the country’s civilian and political forces.
These forces are an integral part of the fabric of Sudan and cannot be excluded. They will be a key component of any negotiation process.
AO: What role do you play now?
MA: Seeking peace!
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