Sudan’s ruling Transitional Military Council (TMC) and the main opposition coalition have reached an agreement to hand power to a civilian transitional government, the African Union (AU) said.
Mohamed Hassan Lebatt, the AU mediator for Sudan, said representatives from both sides – civilian pro-democracy groups and the military – will continue talks over the technical details of the deal.
“I am announcing to the Sudanese, African and international public opinion that the two delegations have fully agreed on the constitutional declaration,” Lebatt told a news conference in the early hours of Saturday morning.
The document, which outlines the powers and the relationships between the branches of the transitional government, comes after weeks of protracted negotiations brokered by Ethiopia and the AU.
As news of the agreement filtered through to Sudan, people began gathering on Nile Street, the main avenue in the capital Khartoum, honking car horns and ululating in celebration.
Once the transitional government starts work, Sudan will embark on a three-year transition period expected to lead to elections.
MG/as/APA