Sudan accord a step in the right direction

The signing of a hard-won constitutional declaration on Sunday by Sudan’s ruling generals and protest leaders is a hugely significant and positive development that will pave the way for a peaceful transition to civilian rule after several months of demonstrations and violence.

All political, factional, popular and military leaders in Sudan should now extend full and sincere cooperation to ensure a peaceful transfer of power and a better future for the nation.

It is good that the representatives have initialled a constitutional document that would establish a joint military and civilian council to rule for a little over three years until elections can be held. The agreement would establish a Cabinet appointed by the activists, as well as a legislative body.

Ibtisam Al Sanhouri, a legal affairs negotiator for the protest movement, has indicated that the constitutional declaration clears the way for a parliamentary system with a civilian prime minister.

The protest movement will have 201 of 300 seats in parliament and the premier, to be confirmed by the new sovereign council.

The path towards the agreement remained rough for quite some time. The talks had been repeatedly interrupted by deadly violence against demonstrators who have kept up rallies to press for civilian rule.

So much so that the talks had to be suspended for weeks after men in military uniform broke up a long-running protest camp outside army headquarters in Khartoum on June 3, killing at least 127 people, according to doctors close to the protest movement.

With the loss of most of its oil production to the newly independent South Sudan in 2011, the country had lost more than half of its foreign exchange earnings leading to a chronic shortage of hard currency that led to spiralling inflation and frequent shortages of imported commodities.

A tripling by the government of the price of bread in the face of a chronic shortage of flour was the immediate trigger for the four months of nationwide protests that led to veteran president Omar Al Bashir’s overthrow.

Sudan’s well-wishers are naturally happy with the signing of the long-awaited deal.

Egypt has termed it a significant step on the right track, while the Saudi foreign ministry has welcomed it as a quantum leap that will transition Sudan to stability and security.

The UAE has always stood by brotherly nations at their time of need and extended timely assistance.

Recently, the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development announced its plan to deposit $250 million into the Central Bank of Sudan, CBOS, to secure increased liquidity and strengthen the financial position of Sudan.

The deposit fell within the framework of the newly announced $3 billion UAE-Saudi Arabia joint aid package for Sudan that had committed $500 million to CBOS, evenly split between the two countries.

The Abu Dhabi Fund for Development has financed several development projects in Sudan, spanning crucial sectors, such as industry, transportation, energy, water and irrigation.

As stated by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the signing of the agreement between the representatives of the two sides is the cornerstone for achieving progress and prosperity for the Sudanese people.

The UAE has rightly urged all political and popular parties to unite and give priority to the national interest, so that Sudan can move towards stability.

This positive and important step should mark a new phase during which security and stability prevail in realisation of the aspirations of the Sudanese people.