Sudan’s Foreign Ministry has announced plans for a return to civilian rule in the country.

The foreign ministry said this in a statement posted on X Monday after the national army gained ground in conflict with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia.

A strategic plan for the post-war phase has been developed under the leadership of the de facto ruler Abdel-Fattah al-Burhan.

“The plan envisages forming a transitional government, appointing a civilian prime minister and initiating a national dialogue with political and civil society groups.

“The process should lead to free and fair elections,” it said.

The foreign ministry called on the RSF to lay down their arms if they wanted to participate in the political dialogue.

This includes the withdrawal of the militia from the capital, Khartoum, the state of West Kordofan and the region of Darfur.

The Sudanese Army recently reclaimed large areas of territory from the RSF in the greater Khartoum area.

The army says it has also been able to regain control in the states of Sennar, Gezira and the strategically important city of Umm Ruwaba in North Kordofan, thus securing important supply routes.

However, the RSF still retains the upper hand in the western regions of Darfur and West Kordofan.

The foreign ministry called on the international community, particularly the United Nations, the African Union and the Arab League, to support the strategic plan because “it represents a national consensus for restoring peace and stability in the country.”

The armed conflict in Sudan began in April 2023 and has involved bloody fighting between the army, led by al-Burhan, and the RSF militia of his former deputy, Mohammed Hamdan Daglo.

The UN says more than 12 million people have been displaced or fled to neighbouring countries to escape the fighting.

(dpa/NAN)