Sudan is entering a new chapter and Mr. Bashir`s trial is only one part of it. The day before, after months of negotiations, the military junta, which has led the way since the coup, had agreed to share power with civilian leaders. A transitional government led by economist Abdalla Hamdok is expected to take office on 1 September. If all goes well, elections will be held in 2022. News of the agreement left the streets of the capital in a festive mood. But many democrats who rejoiced were also nervous about how far to go. Full details have yet to be codified in a written agreement that is being developed and is expected to be signed early next week. Western and Sudanese leaders say they expect the head of the Transitional Council, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, to be appointed interim leader of Sudan. The power-sharing agreement also enshrines certain rights, including freedom of expression and assembly. It also provides for the creation of a legislative body, two-thirds of which will go to the Alliance for Freedom and Change. Mohamed Hamdan “Hemeti” Dagolo, widely regarded as Sudan`s most powerful man, has pledged to abide by his conditions. Yet al-Bashir, who is currently in a courtroom, is an incredible development, given the time the author has retained his power and acted with impunity.
His trial is also the first test of an independent judiciary under Sudan`s new government structure. Women were the driving force behind the protests that led to the overthrow of Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir. They continue to make great sacrifices as they fight for a peaceful change of power in their country. (15.07.2019) Protesters involved in the negotiations had to make a major concession: an army general will lead Sudan during the first 21 months of the transition, followed by a civilian for the next 18 months. But many were skeptical that the military shared power. Today, the ruling Council will have five civilians, five military chiefs and an eleventh member on whom an agreement has been reached. The Secretary-General, he said in a statement from his spokesman, now encourages all parties concerned to “ensure that the Agreement is implemented in a timely, inclusive and transparent manner and to resolve all outstanding issues through dialogue.” While African Union mediators negotiated the final power-sharing agreement, the agreement was launched by a major week of raw street power, driven by public anger at military brutality, and by an intensive cycle of behind-the-scenes diplomacy, conveyed by an unusual coalition of foreign powers previously divided over the fate of Sudan. Al-Bashir`s 100-member legal team said the former leader was innocent and the money did not count because he was found after al-Bashir was no longer in power. A council of generals led by Lieutenant-General Abdel Fattah Abdelrahman Burhan took power, but he struggled to bring the country back to normal. Nevertheless, the Sovereign Council is constituted so that the army is largely controlled during this critical 21-month period, including on the ministries of defence and the interior. It also complicates the possibility of genuine reconciliation or accountability for past atrocities – including the repression of protesters in June – despite the protesters` desire for a truly independent investigation.
There are also fears that after 21 months, the army will simply refuse to return power to civilians. The signing of the power-sharing agreement coincided with the beginning of al-Bashir`s corruption process.
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