Sudan's Military and Main Opposition Coalition Have Signed a Constitutional Declaration

After signing a power-sharing deal last month, leader of Sudan's main opposition coalition, Ahmed Rabie, and Gen Mohamed Hamdan Daglo of the Transitional Military Council (TMC), signed a constitutional declaration yesterday. The declaration details how a "sovereign council" comprising of six civilians and five military generals will oversee the three-year transition period that will ultimately cede power over to civilians, according to the BBC.

The signing of the constitutional declaration comes a week after more protesters were killed during demonstrations that were being led by high school children in the city of El-Obeid. Among the protesters killed were four students. Recently, the TMC announced that nine soldiers from the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), the same group protesters blame for the deadly crackdown in Khartoum, had been arrested in connection with the killings, The Citizen reports.

A new prime minister is expected to be appointed by the main opposition coalition, the Forces of Freedom and Change (FFC), and will be named on August 20th, Aljazeera reports. It will be the prime minister's duty to consult the FFC and form a new government while the TMC will appoint the defence and interior ministers.

The intention is to name the new cabinet by August 28th and appoint a legislative assembly in the following three months.

After months of massive demonstrations and violence that has claimed the lives of many protesters, the constitutional declaration is a step forward for Sudan. Gen Daglo described the pivotal moment saying, "We entered the negotiations as partners and emerged as one team." He also added that, "The national will has triumphed. It's a win."

An official ceremony will be held on August 17th to formally sign the declaration.