Al-Burhan: The army to the barracks and the parties to the elections

The Sudanese civil forces signed a “political framework agreement” yesterday with the army leaders, which provided for the formation of a credible transitional government led by civilians, ending the army’s assumption of the reins of power in the country and their return to their barracks.

The head of the Sovereignty Council and army commander, Lieutenant General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, announced the military establishment’s final exit from the political process, stressing that this matter is matched by the non-participation of political parties in the two-year transitional period, in response to the slogan “the military is for the barracks and the parties for the elections.”

Addressing the signing ceremony of the agreement at the presidential palace, Al-Burhan said that military professional commitment means military recognition of the political leadership of civilians, remaining neutral, and limiting the army’s mission to maintaining security from external threats. He added, “The approval of this agreement does not mean an agreement with a specific party or entity, but rather a consensus and compromise to find solutions to national issues with the broad participation of civil forces, to reach outcomes that end the state of conflict and turmoil, and pave the way for a real democratic transition.”

Several international and regional parties welcomed the signing of the agreement, which ends the governance crisis and begins a new transitional phase in the country.

The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed the Kingdom’s congratulations on the consensus reached by the parties to the transitional phase in Sudan, stressing its support for the international “trilateral mechanism” in facilitating dialogue between the Sudanese parties. The UAE, the United States, Norway and the United Kingdom also welcomed it, in a joint statement issued by the US State Department describing the agreement as “an essential first step toward the formation of a civilian-led government and the identification of constitutional arrangements to guide Sudan through a transitional period leading to elections.”