Sudanese celebrate agreement between junta and opposition

Since Friday morning, people in Khartoum and other Sudanese cities have been celebrating the conclusion of the agreement between the Transitional Military Council and the Alliance for Freedom and Change (AFC) on the rule of the country for the coming three years. In South Kordofan and Rive Nile state, security agents and militiamen violently dispersed the cheering crowds.

In the three cities of Khartoum state, Khartoum, Omdurman, and Khartoum North (Bahri), people took to the streets welcoming the agreement, chanting that “the blood of the martyrs was not shed for nothing”.

Hundreds of vehicles decorated with the Sudanese flag drove out to the main roads and used their car horns to express their happiness, activists reported to Radio Dabanga.

Addressing the demonstrators in Khartoum on Friday, doctor Mohamed Naji El Asam, leading member of the AFC and the Sudan Professionals Association that initiated the Declaration of Freedom and Change on January 1 this year (three days later he was arrested), spoke about the need for continued unity among the Sudanese people and control of the transitional civilian authority.

He stressed “the importance of cohesion until the objectives of the revolution are achieved, justice prevails regarding the protestors killed, and a country has been build that represents everyone”.

Agreement

In the early hours of Friday morning, the ruling Transitional Military Council (TMC) and the opposition Alliance for Freedom and Change (AFC) reached an agreement on power sharing during a transitional period of three years and three months. After that general elections are planned. The formation of a parliament will be postponed.

The Sovereign Council will consist of 11 members: Five from the military and five civilians. The 11^th member will be civilian, to be selected by both the TMC and the AFC. One of the members will act as president. The coming 21 months, the president will be from the military, to be followed by a civilian for 18 months.

An agreement has also been reached on a national committee of inquiry into the violent break-up of the Khartoum sit-in on June 3 and protestors killed since then.

The main Sudanese rebel groups denounced the agreement. Malik Agar, chairman of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North in Blue Nile called for a meeting of all AFC members, to be held at the premises of the African Union in Addis Ababa, in order to strengthen the unity and cohesion of the opposition movement.

Outside Khartoum

People in cities and towns in the states also celebrated the agreement.

In particular El Fasher in North Darfur, El Obeid in North Kordofan, El Fula and El Muglad in West Kordofan, Kadugli and Abu Jubeiha in South Kordofan, Kosti in White Nile state, Wad Madani in El Gezira, Roseiris and Ed Damazin in Blue Nile state, Sennar and Singa in Sennar, El Gedaref and Kassala in eastern Sudan, and Atbara in River Nile state witnessed mass rallies on Friday.

People visited the homes of protesters killed since the uprising started in the country in mid-December, before they gathered at public squares to express their joy about the agreement.

AFC leaders told Radio Dabanga on Friday that the demonstrators called for civilian rule and retribution for the people killed during the uprising. The people also expressed their readiness to continue the regular protest rallies “to guard the agreement until its points are fully implemented including the transfer of power to a civilian government”.

In South Kordofan and Blue Nile state, people as well called for an end to the civil war by addressing the roots of the problem.

In Wad Madani, capital of El Gezira state, a number of demonstrators celebrated the agreement as a victory of the uprising, others expressed their reservation about the agreement and demanded the prosecution of those responsible for the killing of protesters, activist Mujahid El Rafee told this station.

Crack-down

Members of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), Sudan’s main militia supported by security agents reportedly used live bullets and tear gas against people celebrating the agreement in Atbara in northern Sudan and Abu Jubeiha in southern Sudan.

In Abu Jubeiha, RSF militiamen fired bullets into the air, used tear gas, and beat people who publicly celebrated the agreement after Friday prayers. One demonstrator was seriously wounded and was taken to the town’s hospital.

Activists from Atbara reported that police fired tear gas at cheering protesters.

Protest vigil planned in Kassala

The AFC in eastern Sudan announced a demonstration tomorrow in front of the court in Kassala, in protest against the transfer of prosecutor Ibrahim El Hadi to another place.

Mohamed El Hasan of the AFC Kassala branch said that the prosecutor was transferred by the authorities because he issued an arrest warrant against the former governor of Kassala based on a complaint made by AFC against him concerning “abuse of power” and “illegal".

Our editorial independence means that we can continue to provide factual updates about political developments to Sudanese and international actors, educate people about how to avoid outbreaks of infectious diseases, and provide a window to the world for those in all corners of Sudan. Support Radio Dabanga for as little as €2.50, the equivalent of a cup of coffee.