Sudanese Parties Close to Reaching Agreement on Civilian Government

Al-Burhan delivers a speech in a northern region of the country on Friday. (SUNA)
Al-Burhan delivers a speech in a northern region of the country on Friday. (SUNA)
TT

Sudanese Parties Close to Reaching Agreement on Civilian Government

Al-Burhan delivers a speech in a northern region of the country on Friday. (SUNA)
Al-Burhan delivers a speech in a northern region of the country on Friday. (SUNA)

The Sudanese are expecting an imminent agreement to form a civilian government, with a civilian president and prime minister.

The current head of the Sovereignty Council, Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, is likely to be named commander-in-chief of the army, and his deputy, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, commander of the Rapid Support Forces, as hinted by UN Representative Volker Perthes and confirmed by a source in the Coalition of the Declaration of Freedom of Change.

In a speech on Friday, Al-Burhan spoke about “good news” for the people, without giving further details. He said the political forces would make concessions for the sake of Sudan’s security and stability. He also announced his readiness to adopt any initiative that would save the country from the current crisis.

The military establishment and an appreciable part of the political forces made concessions, Al-Burhan said during a public speech, in Al-Basabir area in the north of the country.

His comments came in parallel with information on an agreement between the army and the opposition to form a transitional government, which would be headed by a civilian prime minister, in addition to the establishment of a security and defense council to include members from the military institution.

According to the said agreement, Al-Burhan would assume the position of commander-in-chief, and his deputy, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, commander of the Rapid Support Forces.

A leading source in the Coalition of the Declaration of Freedom and Change, which is conducting negotiations with the military, confirmed that a full agreement was reached between the two parties on a document according to which the military would leave power to open the way for a civilian democratic transition.

Based on the agreement, civilians, military personnel, and leaders of armed struggle movements would participate in the Security and Defense Council under the presidency of the civilian prime minister. All police and security services would be entrusted to the prime minister, in addition to the formation of a transitional legislative council that would include all revolutionary forces.

The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, expected that the agreement would be signed within the next few days with the unanimity of all parties.

In an interview with Al-Arabiya channel, Perthes pointed to an understanding to form a Security and Defense Council headed by the prime minister.

He also stressed the importance of the military being part of the institutions, as long as they are outside politics.

“The legitimacy of the armed movements was determined by the Juba Peace Agreement; but if we want a stable future for Sudan, there cannot be 5 or 6 different armies... We are talking about elections within 24 months, so how can we imagine that a movement or a party with an army will engage in the elections, against the rest of the civil parties?!” Perthes said in his interview.

On issues of justice, Perthes said that the Sudanese were asking for answers about the status of those responsible for the crimes committed in their country, stressing that they have the right to obtain these answers.



More than 43,000 Palestinians Killed in Yearlong War in Gaza, Palestinian Health Ministry Says

 Displaced Palestinians ordered by the Israeli military to evacuate the northern part of Gaza take a rest as they flee amid an Israeli military operation, in Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip October 23, 2024. REUTERS/Hassan Al-Zaanin/File Photo
Displaced Palestinians ordered by the Israeli military to evacuate the northern part of Gaza take a rest as they flee amid an Israeli military operation, in Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip October 23, 2024. REUTERS/Hassan Al-Zaanin/File Photo
TT

More than 43,000 Palestinians Killed in Yearlong War in Gaza, Palestinian Health Ministry Says

 Displaced Palestinians ordered by the Israeli military to evacuate the northern part of Gaza take a rest as they flee amid an Israeli military operation, in Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip October 23, 2024. REUTERS/Hassan Al-Zaanin/File Photo
Displaced Palestinians ordered by the Israeli military to evacuate the northern part of Gaza take a rest as they flee amid an Israeli military operation, in Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip October 23, 2024. REUTERS/Hassan Al-Zaanin/File Photo

The number of Palestinians killed in the yearlong war in Gaza has passed 43,000, more than half of them women and children, the Palestinian Health Ministry said Monday.

The tally includes 96 dead who arrived at hospitals in Gaza over the past two days, the ministry said.

Israeli troops have launched an ongoing operation in northern Gaza that included a raid on a hospital over the weekend. The military said it detained 100 suspected Hamas militants in a raid on Kamal Adwan Hospital in Beit Lahiya on Friday.

The World Health Organization accused Israel of detaining 44 male hospital staff. Palestinian medical officials said the hospital, which was treating some 200 patients, was heavily damaged in the raid, Reuters reported.

Israel has raided several hospitals in Gaza over the course of the yearlong war, saying Hamas and other militants use them for military purposes. Palestinian medical officials deny those allegations and accuse the military of recklessly endangering civilians.

An Israeli military official, speaking on condition of anonymity in keeping with regulations, said there was heavy fighting around Kamal Adwan Hospital, though not inside it, and that weapons were found inside the facility.

The official said medical staff were detained and searched because some of the militants had disguised themselves as medics.

According to the official, the military had helped international organizations relocate 88 patients and medical staff to other hospitals in the weeks leading up to the raid, and that during the raid itself, troops had brought 30,000 liters of fuel and medical supplies from international organizations to help keep the facility running.

The Israeli military has called on Palestinians to evacuate northern Gaza, where it has been waging a large offensive for more than three weeks. The official said the operation in the northern Gaza city of Jabaliya would last “several more weeks.”

The UN said earlier this month at least 400,000 people are still in northern Gaza and hunger is rampant as the amount of humanitarian aid reaching the north has plummeted over the past month.

The Gaza Health Ministry said at least 43,020 people have been killed and 101,110 others wounded since the war started on Oct. 7, 2023.