Page 15 - The Nile Explorer Magazine 011

were signed on 18 October between meaningful military capacity and who to demonstrate, with many Sudanese
the government and the Sudan People’s represent significant constituencies”. determined to sustain the revolution.
Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N The deal sets out terms to integrate rebels Strong African and international
on Darfur and between the government into the security forces, be politically pressure for the rapid formation of a
and the Sudan Revolutionary (SRF). The represented and have economic and civilian-led transitional authority, US/
third round started in mid-December land rights. A new fund will pay $750m UK diplomatic intervention with the
on the eastern Sudan track, the Two a year for 10 years to the impoverished TMC’s backers, Saudi Arabia, the UAE
Areas track with the SPLM-N and the southern and western regions and the and Egypt, and a coup attempt by
Darfur track. chance of return for displaced people is counter-revolutionary Islamist forces
also guaranteed. may all have persuaded the TMC that
Sudan has a unique opportunity to they had to strike a deal with the pro-
Sudan’s transitional government and embrace peaceful democratic transition democracy movement.
several rebel groups have signed a peace if comprehensive reforms, including Mediated by the African Union and
agreement aimed at resolving years of freedom and justice are instituted, Ethiopia, the deal provides for a
war in which hundreds of thousands of coming after months of peaceful pro- transitional period of three years and
people died and millions displaced in democracy protests, leading to the fall three months to prepare for national
different regions across the country. of former President Omar al Bashir’s elections in 2022. Under the transitional
The October agreements were being regime in April, 2019. arrangement, the government is
signed a year after the peace talks Sudan’s Transitional Military Council composed of three transitional bodies: a
began, at a ceremony in Juba, with the (TMC) and the opposition coalition joint military/civilian Sovereign Council
Guarantors of the deal from Chad, Qatar, of the Forces for Freedom and Change
Egypt, the African Union, European
Union and United Nations also put their
names to the agreement.
“Today we have reached a peace
agreement. We are happy. We have
finished the mission,” Tut Gatluak, head
of the South Sudanese mediating team
said, shortly before the inking of the
deal.
However, two powerful rebel groups
– the Darfur-based Sudan Liberation
Movement (SLM) faction led by
Abdelwahid Mohamed al-Nour and the
Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-
North (SPLM-N) led by Abdelaziz
al-Hilu did not sign, reflecting the
challenges still facing the peace process.
In a separate deal last month, al-Hilu
struck with the government, agreeing
to a ceasefire until Sudan’s constitution
is changed to separate religion and Sudan’s Sovereign Council Chief Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and South
government. Sudan’s President Salva Kiir attend the signing of a peace accord between Sudan’s
Many of the rebel groups have always transitional government and Sudanese revolutionary movements, in Juba, South
pointed to the role of religion in Sudan Oct. 3, 2020.
lawmaking s a key issue, observing that
a secular state and the, the disbandment (FFC) agreed on 4 August to form a acting as a collective head of state, with
of former President Omar al-Bashir’s civilian-led transitional government, six civilian and five military members; a
militias and the reforming of the paving the way for democratic transition. civilian prime minister and Cabinet of
country’s military was necessary to Following the transfer of power from technocrats; and a Legislative Council.
guarantee peace. These are key issues the Transitional Military Council to The constitutional declaration of 4
for national building that many of the the Sovereignty Council of Sudan, the August builds on a power-sharing deal
groups demand and if not met, they Sovereignty Council appointed Abdalla agreed in July and details the powers and
would led to calls for self-determination Hamdok as Prime Minister during the responsibilities of the three bodies. Some
particularly in areas like the Blue Nile transitional period. He was sworn in on opposition forces criticize the arranged
and South Kordofan provinces. 21 August 2019. for being too weak, particularly as the
. The Sudan People’s Liberation The TMC had realized the limits of military chairs the Sovereign Council
Movement-North (SPLM-N) led by its power when its attempt to halt the for the first 21 months and will be able
Abdelaziz al-Hilu the most vocal on revolution with a brutal crackdown on to veto its decisions.
these issues. The SLM and SPLM-N “are 3 June backfired, sparking international While civilian rule and civic rights were
the only armed groups in Sudan with outrage. Defiant protestors continued the main demands of protestors in urban

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