Sudan: Military junta and civilian movement leaders to sign historic Constitutional Charter today

The text of Sudan's Constitutional Charter is scheduled to be signed today in an official ceremony in presence of regional leaders and international envoys, confirming a plan for a transition from control by a military junta to a civilian-led government.

The document will be signed by representatives of the Military Council and the Forces for Freedom and Change, the coalition that led the popular uprising of millions of Sudanese across the country, culminating in the ousting of President Omar al Bashir on April 11.

John Prendergast, Co-Founder of The Sentry, said in a press release yesterday: ”This agreement is a potential new beginning for a country tormented by war and dictatorship since its independence. 

”A major cloud hangs over the deal, though. The most likely spoiler of peace and democracy in Sudan is the kleptocratic ‘deep state’ controlled by senior figures in the military and the leader of the Rapid Support Forces, General Hemedti. The companies they control are looting Sudan’s resources and budget for their personal enrichment. 

”If this mafia network isn’t countered in some way, the prospects for peace and democracy are very dim indeed.”

Dr Suliman Baldo, Senior Advisor at the Enough Project**, said: ”The Sudanese people have offered an admirable example of how nonviolent civil resistance could bring down a well entrenched and corrupt dictatorship. However, daunting challenges will face Sudan’s progress to democracy and sound governance, chief among them the survival of the elements of the former regime in the institutions of the transition.

”The leadership of the Sudanese people’s uprising had to concede reform of the security sector to a military and security establishment with a long history of mass atrocities against its population. Justice will not be met for the victims if that concession meant that those responsible for the worst crimes will continue to enjoy total impunity as they did under the fallen regime of Al Bashir.”

Per the terms of the agreement, the military establishment will be represented in the Sovereign Council, while the Forces for Freedom and Change will nominate both the interim Council of Ministers and Legislative Council.

*  The Sentry is a US-based investigative and policy team that "follows the dirty money connected to African war criminals and transnational war profiteers and seeks to shut those benefiting from violence out of the international financial system".

** The Enough Project, based in Washington, supports peace and an end to mass atrocities in Africa’s deadliest conflict zones, together with its investigative initiative The Sentry.

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