Sudan’s ruling Transitional Military Council and the leaders of the protest movement reached agreement on Friday, 5 July 2019, on the disputed question of who would govern the country during the transition that followed the removal of longtime president Omar al-Bashir in April, Africanews reported. The deal rested on a mediation plan put forward by the African Union and neighboring Ethiopia, and it was seen as a breakthrough toward a power-sharing accord to end Sudan’s political crisis.
Announcing the agreement, the African Union envoy to Sudan, Mohamed Hassan Lebatt, said: “The two sides have also agreed on establishing a sovereign council by rotation between the military and civilians for a period of three years or slightly more.” He said they had also agreed to form a civilian government of independent, skilled figures led by a prime minister, and to postpone setting up a legislative council until the sovereign council and civilian government were in place.
Crowds poured into the streets of Khartoum and neighboring Omdurman to celebrate when the news broke. Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, the deputy head of the military council, widely known as Hemedti, welcomed the agreement. “We thank the African and Ethiopian mediators for their efforts and patience. We also thank our brothers in the Forces for Freedom and Change for the good spirit,” he said, naming the protest coalition. He promised that the agreement “will be comprehensive and will not exclude anyone.”
The two sides also agreed to launch a transparent and independent investigation into the violent events of the previous weeks.
Sources: Africanews