Sudan opposition, military sign transition deal to resolve political crisis
Khartoum, Dec 5 (EFE).- Sudan’s main civilian opposition alliance and the country’s army signed an initial “framework agreement” on Monday to resolve the political crisis triggered by a military coup d’etat over a year ago.
At a ceremony at the Presidential Palace in Khartoum attended by delegates from the United Nations and the African Union, representatives of political, professional and trade union entities in Sudan signed the deal which outlines the handover of transitional power from the army to the civilian government.
The Armed Forces, on the other hand, will be represented in the security and defense council, headed by the civilian prime minister.
Under the interim agreement, the parties have two years to create a constitution and begin the process of legislative, executive and judicial elections. The 24-month transition period will culminate with a general election.
The agreement also stipulates the separation of the army from political life and from economic, commercial and investment activities in the country, as well as the creation of a unified national army that is integrated with other paramilitary units.
The deal includes the entry into force of a mechanism for “accountability” to “achieve justice for the victims”, in reference to the hundreds of demonstrators who were killed by security forces during the revolution and during the protests against the military coup d’état in October 2021.
The head of the UN mission in Sudan, Volker Perthes, called for the principles guiding the agreement “to be translated into success”.
In a joint statement the UN and AU, as well as the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), said the deal was “a critical first step towards the restoration of a sustainable transitional period and the formation of a credible civil, democratic, and accountable government” and called on the transitional authorities to “commit to respect and protect the rights and freedoms of all Sudanese to ensure the success of the ongoing political process.”
Although the agreement has been welcomed by the international community and several civilian groups in Sudan, the so-called resistance committees – which have organized demonstrations against the military regime – called for protests on Monday to denounce the pact, which they consider to have been negotiated “in secret” between the opposition alliance and the military.
The agreement was also reached thanks to the mediation of the UN and the African Union, which after the coup initiated a round of talks between the various Sudanese interest groups to find a solution to the crisis.
The main civilian opposition alliance had led the so-called “Sudanese revolution” which three years ago caused the fall of former dictator Omar Al-Bashir, with the army taking over.
Since the coup d’état against the transitional military regime in 2021, more than 100 civilians have died in protests to demand the formation of a fully civilian government. EFE
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