A founding conference of the Coordination of Civil Democratic Forces, a Sudanese umbrella group also known as Taqaddum, commenced on Sunday, May 26, 2024, in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa. The conference will run until May 30.
The Sudanese Coordination of Civil Democratic Forces is a coalition of civil society, youth, vocational and feminist groups working towards bolstering democracy and human rights in Sudan. The body is led by former Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok.
The coalition has been active in recent months to help end the war between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). It has held several meetings in neighbouring countries to tackle the conflict.
According to the group’s media team, the conference agenda includes discussions on the foundational bylaws, the approval of the political vision, and the organizational structure.
The event was inaugurated with a women’s dialogue session under the theme “Enhancing Women’s Solidarity for Building and Restoring Democratic Transition.”
The opening session featured addresses from several Sudanese female activists and feminists, including a speech by Hanna Serwaa Tetteh, the Special Envoy of the UN Secretary-General for the Horn of Africa.
Formed last year after the outbreak of war, Taqaddum has held multiple meetings of its leadership council and organized a series of workshops in Kenya, Uganda, and Ethiopia.
The founding conference is expected to conclude with the election of the council leader.
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