A top African Union diplomat on Friday announced the transition agreement between Sudan’s ruling military council and the protest and opposition alliance is expected to be signed very soon. The announcement was made by AU Special Envoy, Mohammed el-Hassan Labat, after a third round of talks with Sudan’s military delegation and leaders from Forces for Declaration of Freedom and Change.
“The two negotiating delegations from the Forces of Declaration for Freedom and Change and the Transitional military council met in a third round of negotiations and this evening they are in complete agreement on the political announcement that determines all the bodies of the transitional stage”, Labat said. “The political document has been agreed upon unanimously.”
The two sides will resume fresh talks on Saturday to try to discuss a constitutional declaration.
“The political document has been agreed upon unanimously what is left is a proclamation which establishes the transitional period or the transition into a civilian government,” said Mohamoud Dirir, Ethiopian mediator. “This shall be debated on, discussed and signed at the same time.”
The transition agreement is aimed at breaking the political deadlock that has gripped Sudan following the overthrow of long-serving President Omar al-Bashir in April. The months of protests have led to the death of more than 100 people.
The agreement in question calls for the formation of a new ruling body that will be held by the military for the first 21 months and a civilian for the remaining 18 months. It would comprise six civilians, including five from the protest movement, and five officers.
Meanwhile, on Thursday, Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan revealed that the ruling military council thwarted an attempted military coup and arrested 12 officers and four soldiers who led the coup attempt. The investigations are underway to determine who the mastermind of the attempted coup was.
