Sudan's military, parties sign initial transition deal

Sudan's ruling generals and a coalition of civilian opposition leaders on Monday signed a framework agreement to pave the way for a civilian-led transitional government.

The deal is meant to guide the country towards elections and offer a path forward after the coup in October 2021 halted Sudan's transition to civilian rule.

Anti-military protests have continued in the country since the coup, with key factions opposing and staying out of the initial framework inked Monday.

The United States, Norway, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Britain "welcome the agreement of an initial political framework," a joint statement issued by the US State Department said.

The United Nations' Special Envoy for Sudan praised the agreement towards a transitional government during the signing ceremony, held at the Republican Palace in the capital of Khartoum. 

"It is my hope that the principles in the document will be translated into action," said Volker Perthes, the UN's Special Representative for Sudan, on Monday, remarking, however, that the lack of signatures from "key political forces" was a challenge and that the  agreement was not "perfect". 

"It is important that the second phase of this political process begins immediately to deal with the outstanding issues," he said, making clear that receiving the missing signatures from key political actors relied on continued attempts to reach out to them. 
 

What the initial framework says

The initial agreement was the first of at least two planned accords.

It was signed by Sudan's two ruling generals, Abdel-Fattah Burhan and Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, and the leaders from the country's largest pro-democracy group, Forces for the Declaration of Freedom and Change, at the Khartoum Republican Palace.

According to the draft agreement, Sudan's military is to eventually step back from politics, while civilian signatories are to agree on a prime minister to steer Sudan through a 24-month transition.

The deal stipulates that the military will form part of a new "security and defense council" under the appointed prime minister.

It does not address details concerning thornier political issues, such as a transitional judicial system and the implementation of military reforms. The issues are to be addressed in a follow-up accord.

Opposition faction calls for protests

The initial deal has been opposed by groups that are against negotiations with the military, and by Islamist factions loyal to the regime of former leader Omar al-Bashir, who was ousted in 2019.

The pro-democracy Resistance Committee leaders called for demonstrations against the agreement, with protesters taking to the streets in at least two areas outside of Khartoum before the signing ceremony at the presidential palace.

The military coup last year ended a power-sharing arrangement which civilians agreed on following the overthrow of al-Bashir.

Military leaders have said their takeover was necessary to preserve Sudan’s stability amid political infighting.

Tens of thousands of protesters also marched across the country last month on the first anniversary of the 2021 military coup, demanding full civilian rule, even as security forces clamped down on them. 

los, rm/wd (Reuters, AFP, AP)