FFC-CC: ‘Sudan’s transitional civilian govt to be formed by start of Ramadan’

The mainstream Forces for Freedom and Central Change-Central Council FFC-CC, says that the formation of the new transitional civilian government will conclude before the start of the fasting month of Ramadan*. On Saturday, junta leaders Lt Gen Abdelfattah El Burhan, Commander of the Sudan Armed Forces and Chairman of the Sovereignty Council and Lt Gen Mohamed ‘Hemeti’ Dagalo, Commander of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and Deputy Chairman of the Sovereignty Council met to discuss a number of ‘contentious’ issues between them.

Abdeljalil El Basha, leading member of the FFC-CC told Radio Dabanga yesterday that the formation of the new transitional civilian government depends on the completion of the conferences on five important issues and the subsequent signing of a final agreement with the ruling junta, after which the military will hand over power to a civilian government.

He said that dialogues are ongoing with the Justice and Equality Movement and the Sudan Liberation Movement faction headed by Minni Minawi on their signing of the Framework Agreement. The two rebel movements that stayed in power after the military coup of October 2021, established the FFC-Democratic Block in early November last year, and insist on signing the Framework Agreement as the FFC-DB. “The distance between us and the two movements is becoming shorter,” El Basha said.

The Framework Agreement between military junta and the political opposition groups, under the umbrella of the FFC-CC, was signed on December 5 last year. Each of the more than 40 groups separately signed the agreement.

Tensions between El Burhan and Hemeti

On Saturday, Lt Gen Abdelfattah El Burhan, Commander of the Sudan Armed Forces and Chairman of the Sovereignty Council and Lt Gen Mohamed ‘Hemeti’ Dagalo, Commander of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and Deputy Chairman of the Sovereignty Council met to discuss a number of thorny issues between them.

The two junta leaders met at the Guest House in Khartoum on Saturday evening, after weeks of media confrontations.

The meeting has a positive impact on the current political process, political scientist Salaheldin El Doma told Radio Dabanga yesterday.

He said he expects the two-stage process will proceed according to what was agreed on in the Framework Agreement.

“Though the meeting between El Burhan and Hemeti will lead to tensions in the relationship between El Burhan and affiliates of the dissolved National Congress Party, it is good for the political process and the country,” he said. “Just seeing El Burhan and Hemeti sitting together indicates a calming of the situation between the two parties.”

According to a statement by the Sovereignty Council press office, the two parties decided to form a joint security committee made up of “regular forces, relevant state agencies, and rebel movements to follow up on the security situation in the country”.

The meeting dealt with the progress of the current political process and the need to move forward with the agreed arrangements, the statement said.

The FFC-CC and the other signatories of the Framework Agreement have welcomed the re-rapprochement.

* The Sudanese Society for Astronomy announced that Ramadan will start on Thursday, March 23.