Editors’ Insights | Sudan: A spectrum of Negotiations

Since the beginning of the protests in Sudan in December, we started searching for correspondents and resources to give us insight on what is happening on the ground in Sudan and on the various elements involved in this vital regional event, which other Egyptian media outlets were reluctant to cover.

In the following audio clips, Mada’s correspondent in Sudan, Muhammed al-Amin, is providing analysis and in-depth details on the main players on the Sudanese scene today, especially the former transitional military council and its military component; the Rapid Support Forces, and the Sudanese Professionals Association.

The Sudanese Professionals Association is one of the leading groups that had called for protests and sit-ins since the beginning of the Sudanese protests. The SPA includes more than 50 associations and syndicates of doctors, journalists, lawyers, engineers, pharmacists, and bankers. It is the political group that is engaged actively in the negotiations with the transitional military council. The Coalition for Freedom and Change is made up of these associations and other opposition groups.

After the overthrow of President Omar al-Bashir and the resignation of the defense minister Awad Ibn Ouf on April 12, the transitional military council was reassembled with Lieutenant General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan as its head, and the head of the Rapid Support Forces, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo or Hemedti, as deputy head of the council. After reaching an agreement with the opposition groups in August, both Burhan and Hemedti stayed as part of the new sovereign council who will rule the country for the coming three years.

At the beginning of August, an initial agreement was announced between the former transitional military council and the main political opposition groups in Sudan, which included a constitutional declaration creating a path for a transition to a civil government following months of disagreement.

The primary aspects of the constitutional declaration include the appointment of the ministers of defense and interior by the military members of the newly formed sovereign council — which consists of 11 members including Hemedti and Burhan, along with six civilians — and the formation of a new government of 18 ministers, who are to be chosen by the prime minister. 

The constitutional declaration also states that 67% of the members of the legislative assembly will be drawn from the Coalition for Freedom and Change. The declaration states that the Rapid Support Forces will report to the Ministry of Defense and the Sudanese Armed Forces during the transitional period, while the National Intelligence and Security Service will be under the supervision of the sovereign council. Negotiations between the Coalition for Freedom and Change and the military council in Sudan had been ongoing since last April.

On Tuesday, August 20, the representatives appointed to serve on the new sovereign council were announced. The new council will be in charge of the country for 39 months from the date the constitutional declaration was signed.

Here’s an introduction to the six civilian members of the new sovereign council:

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