A former rebel commander now allied with the Sudanese government has proposed a new roadmap to end the country's civil war and establish a democratic government. Malik Agar Ayyir, chairman of a militia that once fought Khartoum, calls for restoring the state's monopoly on arms and dissolving non-state armed groups as part of a transition to civilian rule and free elections.

The proposal, obtained by Al Jazeera, aims to build consensus among actors aligned with Sudan's internationally recognized government through dialogue or a series of meetings. It addresses the role of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), the conflict with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary, international community involvement, and future governance.

The document stresses that progress cannot be made without acknowledging the role of "external actors" in Sudan's internal affairs. Sudanese officials have long accused the United Arab Emirates of supporting the RSF rebellion. The process builds on a 2020 peace deal between the government and rebel groups.

Agar has previously ruled out negotiations with the RSF, and his proposal treats army-RSF talks as a separate track. Since fighting erupted in April 2023, thousands have been killed and 14 million displaced, creating the world's largest humanitarian crisis. Armed factions face allegations of ethnic cleansing and genocide.

Previous peace efforts, including a 2025 UN Security Council plan and a November "Quad" initiative by the US, UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt, have failed. The SAF rejected the Quad plan citing UAE bias. A December "Nairobi roadmap" sought a civilian-led third pole, but Agar's proposal offers a new government-aligned approach.

Source: www.aljazeera.com