Sudan: agreement between the military and civilians to end the political crisis
General Al-Burhan during a press conference in Paris, May 17, 2021 (Illustration image) © REUTERS / Sarah Meyssonnier
Text by: RFI Follow
2 mins
At the Republican Palace, the ruling military and some civilian groups have found a compromise for a two-year transition.
The signing of the agreement, in the presence of representatives of the UN, the AU and diplomats, comes after months of negotiations, aided by international mediation.
A culmination, more than a year after the October 2021 coup which had derailed the transition.
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The text announces the exit of the military from the political sphere.
Signatory civil groups will choose a prime minister, also a civilian, to oversee a two-year transition.
The count will begin after his appointment.
The army should form a new “
Defence and Security Council
”, placed under the leadership of the head of government.
Finally, the document mentions a unification of the army, with a resumption of control of companies now owned by the military.
The UN special envoy, Volker Perthes, present at the ceremony, hailed “
an agreement by the Sudanese for the Sudanese
”.
Irma van Dueren, the Dutch ambassador to Khartoum, welcomed an “
important step
”, while asking for “
additional confidence-building measures, such as the release of prisoners
”.
The United States, Norway, the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia "
welcomed
" on Monday December 5 the signing of a first agreement aimed at ending the political crisis which is shaking Sudan, in a joint statement.
The #Netherlands welcomes the signing of the framework agreement today in #Sudan.
This means an important step towards return to democratic transition and civilian rule.
Additional confidence building measures, including release of prisoners, are needed.
@nlinsudan @DutchMFA pic.twitter.com/WV5jw3YdDr
— Irma van Dueren (@irmavandueren) December 5, 2022
A first step
Several civilian groups, including the Forces of Freedom and Change, have signed.
On the other hand, the
resistance committees
, this large popular network at the heart of the demonstrations, boycotted and called for people to take to the streets.
The marches have also started in the country.
Islamists sympathetic to the old regime were not there either, as were former rebel groups that made peace with Khartoum in 2020.
Then there is a framework agreement.
So we are not going into the details yet.
It is unclear how or when these reforms will be implemented.
However, there are thorny questions unanswered.
Will the military agree to give up their power and their wealth, because the army has control over many sectors, especially the gold mines.
She considers it her pre-square.
This is why a second agreement is planned within a few weeks, which will deal with very sensitive issues, such as transitional justice and army reform.
►Also listen: Report Africa - Sudan: one year after the putsch, the economic crisis hits the inhabitants of outlying districts [3/4]
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Sudan
Abdel Fattah al-Burhan