Friday, March 29, 2024 | Ramadan 18, 1445 H
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EDITOR IN CHIEF- ABDULLAH BIN SALIM AL SHUEILI

Jubilant Sudanese celebrate transition to civilian rule

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Abdelmoneim Abu Idris Ali and Jean-Marc Mojon udan celebrated a historic deal between generals and protest leaders for a transition to civilian rule, which many hope will bring increased freedom and prosperity. During a ceremony held at a hall by the Nile in the capital Khartoum, members of the Transitional Military Council and protest leaders signed the documents that will govern the 39-month transition. “Today, the country begins its historic transition to democracy,” read the front page of the Tayar newspaper, a headline echoed by most other dailies. But the road to democracy remains fraught with obstacles, even if the mood was celebratory as foreign dignitaries as well as thousands of citizens from all over Sudan converged for the occasion.


The deal reached on August 4 — the Constitutional Declaration — brought an end to nearly eight months of upheaval that saw masses mobilise against president Omar al Bashir, who was ousted in April after 30 years in power.


The agreement brokered by the African Union and Ethiopia was welcomed with relief by both sides — protesters celebrated what they see as the victory of their “revolution”, while the generals took credit for averting civil war.


Hundreds of people boarded a train from the town of Atbara — the birthplace of the protests back in December — on Friday night, dancing and singing on their way to the celebrations in Khartoum, videos shared on social media showed.


“Civilian rule, civilian rule,” they chanted, promising to avenge the estimated 250 allegedly killed by security forces during the protests.


After Saturday’s signing, Sudan kicks off a process that includes important first steps.


The composition of the civilian-majority transition ruling council is to be announced on Sunday.


On Thursday, former senior UN official Abdalla Hamdok, a veteran economist, was designated as transitional prime minister.


He is expected to focus on attempting to stabilise Sudan’s economy, which went into a tailspin when the oil-rich south seceded in 2011 and was the trigger that sparked the initial protests.


At Khartoum’s central market early Saturday, shoppers and stallholders interviewed all said they hoped a civilian government would help them put food on the table.


“Everybody is happy now,” said Ali Yusef, a 19-year-old university student who works in the market to get by.


“We were under the control of the military for 30 years but today we are leaving this behind us and moving towards civilian rule,” he said, sitting next to tomatoes piled directly on the ground. — AFP


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