Sudanese leaders postpone signing of democratic transition agreement amid military disagreements

Sudanese leaders have postponed the signing of an agreement that would have resumed the democratic transition in the country. The agreement was supposed to be signed on April 2, 2023, but it was delayed due to continued disagreement between military factions. The leaders have pledged to redouble their efforts to overcome the remaining obstacles and pave the way for the signing of the final political agreement on April 6.

The delay in the signing of the agreement has raised concerns about the future of the democratic transition in Sudan. The country has been in a state of political turmoil since the ousting of General Omar al-Bashir in 2019. The military seized power in October 2021, derailing the democratic transition process that was underway.

Since the coup, representatives have been negotiating an agreement for weeks, the final part in a two-phase political process launched in December to set out the terms for reviving the transition to civilian-led rule and democratic elections. However, the negotiations have been bogged down by a lack of consensus on some outstanding issues, including the reform of the security forces.

Reform of the security forces is a key point of contention in the talks, which envisage an exit of generals from politics once a civilian government is installed. The proposed reforms include the integration into the regular army of the powerful paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), led by Burhan’s deputy Mohamed Hamdan Daglo.

The RSF emerged from the Popular Defence Forces, sometimes called “Janjaweed”, that al-Bashir unleashed a decade earlier in the western region of Darfur against non-Arab rebels. The militia has since been accused by rights groups of having committed war crimes.

The delay in the signing of the agreement has led to concerns about the rivalries between army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and his deputy Mohamed Hamdan Daglo. While experts have pointed to worrying rivalries between the two men, they appeared side by side last week, speaking in the capital Khartoum to plead for successful integration.

The situation in Sudan is complex, and the delay in the signing of the agreement is just one of many obstacles that the country must overcome in its transition to democracy. The country is facing a myriad of challenges, including economic instability, social unrest, and the threat of violence from armed groups.

The international community has been closely monitoring the situation in Sudan and has called for a peaceful resolution to the political crisis. The African Union (AU) has been playing a key role in mediating the negotiations between the military and civilian factions. The AU has called on all parties to work together to find a peaceful solution to the crisis.

The delay in the signing of the agreement is a setback for the democratic transition in Sudan, but it is not the end of the road. The leaders have pledged to redouble their efforts to overcome the remaining obstacles, and there is still hope that a peaceful resolution to the crisis can be found. It is important for all parties to work together to find a solution that is acceptable to everyone and that can pave the way for a stable and democratic future for Sudan.

In conclusion, the delay in the signing of the agreement to resume the democratic transition in Sudan is a setback for the country, but it is not the end of the road. The leaders have pledged to redouble their efforts to overcome the remaining obstacles, and the international community is calling on all parties to work together to find a peaceful resolution to the crisis.

The situation in Sudan is complex, and it will take time and effort to find a solution that is acceptable to everyone. However, it is crucial that all parties continue to work towards a peaceful and democratic future for the country.

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