Sudan's military council, opposition alliance ink political deal

Sudan's Transitional Military Council (TMC) and the opposition Freedom and Change Alliance on Wednesday signed with initial letters on the Political Declaration, a step towards consensus and institution for the transitional period structures.

Sudanese General and Vice President of Sudanese Transitional Military Council, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (C) inks an agreement in Khartoum on July 17, 2019. Sudan's ruling military council and a coalition of opposition groups on Wednesday signed a political deal that paves the way for the handover of power to a civilian administration. [Photo: Anadolu Agency via IC/Mahmoud Hjaj]

The deal was a culmination of marathon talks that continued for more than 13 hours at Corinthia Hotel in the capital Khartoum, under mediation of African Union (AU) and Ethiopian envoys.

The TMC's Deputy Chairman Mohamed Hamdan Daqlu signed on behalf of the council, while Ahmed Rabie, a leading member in the Freedom and Change Alliance, signed for the alliance.

"Signing the deal is a historic moment in the life of the Sudanese nation and initiates a new era of partnership," Daqlu said in a speech following the signing ceremony.

He noted that the deal was a fruit of an exhausting and continued effort that the Sudanese people have long awaited to embrace freedom and justice.

The AU envoy Mohamed Hacen Lebatt said during the signing ceremony that the signing of the deal paves the way for the coming phase and opens a new era to reach the constitutional declaration.

He thanked the TMC and the Freedom and Change Alliance over the responsibility they have shown during the talks and the international community for supporting the negotiations between the Sudanese parties.

The Ethiopian envoy Mahmud Dirir described the signing of the deal as "a great moment for Sudan," adding that "the Sudanese people deserve this great day."

Meanwhile, Ibrahim Al-Amin, a leading member in the Freedom and Change Alliance, urged all parties to refrain from whatever may divide the Sudanese people.

"The coming government will work for the interests of all the Sudanese people without discrimination," he noted.

In the meantime, the signed political declaration is concerned with establishment of the government structures and institutions during the transitional period.

It stipulates the two sides' agreement on sanctity of the principle of national sovereignty, unity of the Sudanese soil and national unity for Sudan with all its diversities.

It further stipulates that the two parties must work on bases of partnership, good intention and stoppage of hostile address.

The declaration also stipulates that the two parties must abide by the principles of democracy, human rights and the traditional values of the Sudanese people.

According to the declaration, the two parties should commit themselves to the principle of settling all differences that may arise through dialogue and mutual respect.

The declaration stipulates establishment of a joint sovereignty council of 11 members, including five civilians and five military representatives, in addition to one civilian personality to be selected through consultation between the two sides.

According to the declaration, the sovereignty council would be chaired by one of the military representatives for the first 21 months as of the date of signing the agreement, while it is to be chaired by a civilian member for the remaining 18 months of the transitional period.

The declaration granted the Freedom and Change Alliance the right to select the prime minister of the civilian government.

It also provided that the council of ministers be formed of independent competences that should not exceed 22 and to be selected by the prime minister through consultation from a list to be presented by the Freedom and Change Alliance, excluding the defence and interior ministers, who are to be appointed by the military component in the sovereignty council.

According to the deal, any member who serves in the sovereignty council, the council of ministers or as a state governor during the transitional period, is not allowed to run in the elections that follow the transitional period.

The two parties, according to the deal, have also agreed to delay the consultations on formation of the legislative council until the sovereignty council and the council of ministers are established, provided that it is to be formed within maximum three months.

The powers of the legislative council go to the council of ministers and sovereignty council until the transitional legislative council is formed.

The declaration also stipulates formation of a national independent committee to investigate the violent incidents which took place during June 3, 2019 and other incidents during which rights and dignity of the citizens have been violated, whether civilians or military.

The TMC and the Freedom and Change Alliance have agreed to delay the signing of the constitutional declaration, which determines the powers of the transitional period structures.

On July 5, the TMC and the Freedom and Change Alliance, under mediation by Ethiopia and the African Union, reached a deal on establishing transitional authorities to jointly govern the country.