Sudan constitutional declaration: Controlling RSF, dismantling the deep state and stabilising the economy are still huge challenges

Article from The Financial Times.com

By Tom Wilson in London

Dated Sunday, 04 August 2019. Excerpt:

Sudan power-sharing deal agreed 

Pro-democracy and military leaders seal power-sharing arrangement in Khartoum 

Sudan’s military leaders and the country’s pro-democracy movement have agreed the terms of a power-sharing deal that mediators hope will lead to a return to civilian rule. 

Leaders from both camps initialled the document on Sunday and mediators hope an official signing will take place later this month. 

Mohamed Hassan Lebatt, an African Union peace broker, announced that the terms of the so-called constitutional declaration had been finalised by the two sides on Saturday. 

The agreement fleshes out a political deal signed last month under which a new sovereign council will be established to run the country for three years until elections are held. The body will be headed by a member of the military for the first 21 months before the leadership rotates to a civilian.  A new legislature and a technocratic, civilian cabinet will also be set up. 

“Glory to the great Sudanese people” said Mohamed Nagy Alassam, one of the leaders of the Sudanese Professionals Association, a workers group that spearheaded four months of protests against former president Omar al Bashir before he was ousted by the military in April. 

The transitional period will not be a picnic, but successive challenges, hard work, diligence and success are our responsibility, he said in the statement posted on Twitter. […]

The incoming transitional administration will face an uphill battle to revive a failing economy and gradually reduce the army’s hold on power. 

Rosalind Marsden, a former UK ambassador to Sudan, said the constitutional declaration appeared to expand on last month’s political agreement but warned of the challenges facing opposition leaders. 

“It’s a significant step forward but there is no room for complacency,” said Dame Rosalind. 

“Controlling the Rapid Support Forces, dismantling the deep state and stabilising the economy are still huge challenges.”

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