Sudanese protesters and leaders have signed a historic deal. The military council and protest leaders signed a constitutional declaration paving way for a transition to civilian rule following the overthrow of President Omar Al-Bashir in April.
If the deal succeeds, Sudan will be under civilian rule in 3 years.
The deal was signed by deputy chief of the military council Mohamed Hamdan Daglo and opposition leader Ahmed al-Rabie during a ceremony at a hall by the Nile River in Khartoum. The ceremony was attended by several heads of state, prime ministers and dignitaries including Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and South Sudanese President Salva Kiir.
The deal stipulates that a joint military and civilian sovereign council will rule for a little over three years until elections can be held. A military leader will head the 11-member council for the first 21 months, followed by a civilian leader for the next 18. The composition of the council is to be announced on Sunday.
The military and the main opposition, Forces of Freedom and Change (FFC), have been negotiating a deal for months. Protests have been ongoing in Sudan as the Sudanese people refused to give up their quest for a free and fair Sudan. The deal comes nearly 9 months to the day after the anti-regime protests started.
The people of Sudan have welcomed the deal.
Header Image Credit - Al Jazeera