Divisions among civilian groups have deepened since the coup, with some urging a deal with the military while others insist on “no partnership, no negotiation”.
The deal was signed by Burhan, paramilitary commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo and multiple civilian groups, most notably the Forces for Freedom and Change (FFC) – the main civilian faction that was ousted in the coup.
As the key players put pens to paper, hundreds of citizens rallied in Khartoum to protest against the deal, setting fire to tyres, erecting barricades and facing down water cannons.
“The settlement is betrayal” and the FFC “sold our blood,” demonstrators cried.
The biggest problem is that the leaders of the coup – Burhan, his deputy Hemeti – stay in power…
“We reject this deal as it overlooked street demands for justice for the people killed since the coup,” said protester Mohamed Ali.
“The biggest problem is that the leaders of the coup – Burhan, his deputy Hemeti – stay in power. People have been killed, injured, detained [for protesting] and they are going ahead without accountability,” said Sudanese filmmaker Hajooj Kuka to the BBC.
If the deal plays out as planned, the civilian signatories will agree on a prime minister who will steer the country through a 24-month transition.
Thorny issues ahead
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres praised the agreement, urging signatories to work towards achieving a “lasting, inclusive political settlement”, spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.
The initial deal was described as “welcome” by the United States and European Union in a joint statement from the “Friends of Sudan” group, which also included Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Norway and Saudi Arabia.
During the signing ceremony, paramilitary commander Dagalo reiterated the military’s purported commitment to exit the political scene, saying “it is essential to build a sustainable democratic regime”.
“The goals of the agreement are establishing a fully civilian authority, creating a free climate for politics, and reaching a final agreement with the widest political participation,” said Al-Wathiq al-Barir, a spokesman for the Forces of Freedom and Change, to the BBC.
The agreement – based on a proposal by the Sudanese Bar Association – was negotiated in the presence of officials from the UN, Western diplomats as well as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, according to the FFC.
UN special representative Volker Perthes, who said the agreement was the culmination of “sustained efforts” over the past year, urged factions to “immediately” start the second phase and strike a comprehensive deal.
However, that part is far thornier, with observers questioning whether the military would be willing to give up economic interests — as stipulated — and wider powers that it views as its privileged domain.
Phase one
Phase one of the deal “is a very low level commitment on Burhan’s part… allowing him to survive” politically, said Kholood Khair founder of the Confluence Advisory, a Khartoum-based think-tank.
But the signatories will likely face “a real political crisis as they start talking in earnest about security sector reforms, transitional justice (and) financial accountability,” she added.
Monday’s signing comes months after Burhan pledged that the military would step aside and make way for factions to agree on a civilian government.
Some of the former rebels who signed peace deals with Sudan in 2020 also voiced their opposition to Monday’s agreement.
Mohamed Zakaraia, spokesman for the ex-rebel Justice and Equality Movement, told AFP that it “will bring about dire consequences and further complicate the political scene”.
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