Sudan’s new military rulers have confirmed reaching a tentative deal with the country’s opposition alliance for a three-year transition period but a key sticking point remains over who gets the lion’s share of seats in the so-called sovereign council.
Such a council will determine the real wielders of power in Sudan during the transition period before an eventual return to civilian rule.
According to details of a joint press conference after more than three weeks of talks, the Transitional Military Council (TMC) says the opposition would occupy two-thirds of the seats on a proposed legislative council.
The deal has been widely welcomed by Sudanese protesters still camped outside the army headquarters in Khartoum beating drums and dancing into the evening on Wednesday.
However, the military rulers still appear cagey about surrendering absolute power to the opposition alliance which is demanding a majority in the sovereign council, the citadel of power.
Six people including a security personnel were killed in running battles between soldiers and protesters in Khartoum as the negotiations over the composition of a proposed power structure for the transition entered their third week.
There has been a protracted sit-in by protesters outside the army headquarters since the military seized power from veteran leader Omar al-Bashir in April.
The demonstration spearheaded by the opposition and social activists were demanding a return to civilian rule within the shortest possible time.
Sudan new rulers had originally announced a four-year transition period, a timeframe rejected by protesters who continued to occupy the streets of the capital.
Sudan’s season of mass protests which eventually prompted the army to intervene and force Bashir from power began last December as a modest demonstration over the rising price of foodstuffs.
WN/as/APA