Sudan’s transitional authorities signed a peace deal with rebel groups on Saturday that aims to put an end to the country’s decades-long civil wars reported Africa News.
The agreement between the government and the rebel group alliance, Sudan Revolutionary Front (SRF), was signed at a ceremony in South Sudan’s capital Juba.
The event was attended by the head of Sudan’s Sovereign Council, Abdel-Fattah al-Burhan, Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok, and South Sudan President Salva Kiir.
Among international dignitaries who attended the ceremony were the presidents of Chad, Djibouti, Ethiopia, and Somalia, as well as the prime minister of Egypt, foreign ministers of Qatar and Saudi Arabia, petroleum minister of the UAE, and representatives of the African Union (AU), the UN, and EU. United Nations chief Antonio Guterres also made an appearance via video link.
Reaching a peace agreement with rebels has been a crucial goal for the transitional government, which came to power after a popular uprising led the military to overthrow President Omar al-Bashir in April 2019.
Sudanese civilian leaders hope the peace agreement will allow them to revive the country’s battered economy. the deal addresses matters related to the sharing of wealth and power, political and national issues, security arrangements, land ownership, and related disputes. Other issues include justice, equality, reconciliation, and compensation in the Darfur, Southern Kordofan, and Nuba Mountain regions.
However, two major rebel groups, the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army-North (SPLM/A-N) and the Sudan Liberation Movement/Army (SLM/A), are not part of the peace deal.
Al-Burhan, head of the Sovereign Council, said the peace deal was important to get Sudan in the right direction and to overcome the social, economic, and political effects of the war.
“Peace is right for all parties and for the future of the Sudanese people,” he said.
Sudan’s Prime Minister Hamdok said the peace deal would open new horizons for development, progress, and prosperity.
He added that the peace process still faces various challenges that can be overcome through concerted efforts and joint action.
