Sudanese Parties Welcome Signing of Deal for New Political Transition  

Sudanese army general Abdel Fattah al-Burhan (C) and leaders of civilian groups sign documents of a framework agreement to end the political stalemate in Khartoum, Sudan, 05 December 2022. (EPA)
Sudanese army general Abdel Fattah al-Burhan (C) and leaders of civilian groups sign documents of a framework agreement to end the political stalemate in Khartoum, Sudan, 05 December 2022. (EPA)
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Sudanese Parties Welcome Signing of Deal for New Political Transition  

Sudanese army general Abdel Fattah al-Burhan (C) and leaders of civilian groups sign documents of a framework agreement to end the political stalemate in Khartoum, Sudan, 05 December 2022. (EPA)
Sudanese army general Abdel Fattah al-Burhan (C) and leaders of civilian groups sign documents of a framework agreement to end the political stalemate in Khartoum, Sudan, 05 December 2022. (EPA)

Sudanese parties welcomed on Monday the signing of a framework agreement between Sudanese forces on a new political transition. 

The parties deemed the development a step towards restoring the democratic civil transition in the country, calling on others to sign the pact.  

Former member of the sovereign council Mohamed al-Faki described the development as a “major step” that should be followed up with more discussions. 

In remarks to Asharq Al-Awsat, he said: “The forces that signed the deal had the courage to take the initiative.” 

The agreement must not be restricted to the signatories as its articles fulfill the demands of the groups that opted against signing it, he stated. 

These groups, he said, have “concerns and more questions” over the agreement. 

“We need to show more openness towards others in order to fortify the civilian front,” Faki added. 

Spokesman of the Forces of Freedom and Change Al-Wathiq Al-Barir said the deal “is the first step towards the final agreement.” 

He told Asharq Al-Awsat: “The agreement speaks of the constitutional framework to complete the duties of the transition and the glorious December revolution.” 

He warned that challenges still lie ahead, saying “saboteurs and opportunists” may seek to impede progress. 

“All the Sudanese people, regardless of their affiliations, must work seriously in ensuring the success of the democratic civilian course and repel dangers,” he urged. 

Sudan’s ruling generals and the main pro-democracy group on Monday signed a framework deal until elections.   

The deal pledges to establish a new, civilian-led transitional government to guide the country to elections and offers a path forward in the wake of Sudan's stalled transition to democracy following the October 2021 coup. 

One of the most prominent signatories, head of the Democratic Unionist Party Muhammad Othman Al-Mirghani described the deal as a “turning point” in political life in Sudan. 

The deal led to the formation of a civilian bloc, which is a product of long months of efforts, he told Asharq Al-Awsat. 

The formation of this bloc renders void the military’s excuses over the lack of consensus among civilian parties, he added. The military has been using this lack of unity to remain involved in politics. 

Mirghani said that more work needed to be done to complete the formation of the civilian bloc. 

With the military’s exit from the political scene, civil groups will be able to continue dialogue to reach a comprehensive constitutional agreement that would effectively kick off the transitional period, he went on to say. 

He noted that the army “clearly declared that it was ready to leave political life to civilian forces to carry out their roles.” 

He remarked that the civilian forces have not yet reached complete consensus as some key parties have yet to join the agreement. 

Efforts will be made to convince them to join the process, he stressed. 



Rights Defenders Denounce US Sanctions on UN Expert on Palestinians

UN Special Rapporteur for the occupied Palestinian territories, Francesca Albanese gives a press conference at the UN City in Copenhagen, Denmark February 5, 2025. Ritzau Scanpix/Ida Marie Odgaard via REUTERS/File Photo
UN Special Rapporteur for the occupied Palestinian territories, Francesca Albanese gives a press conference at the UN City in Copenhagen, Denmark February 5, 2025. Ritzau Scanpix/Ida Marie Odgaard via REUTERS/File Photo
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Rights Defenders Denounce US Sanctions on UN Expert on Palestinians

UN Special Rapporteur for the occupied Palestinian territories, Francesca Albanese gives a press conference at the UN City in Copenhagen, Denmark February 5, 2025. Ritzau Scanpix/Ida Marie Odgaard via REUTERS/File Photo
UN Special Rapporteur for the occupied Palestinian territories, Francesca Albanese gives a press conference at the UN City in Copenhagen, Denmark February 5, 2025. Ritzau Scanpix/Ida Marie Odgaard via REUTERS/File Photo

Human rights defenders rallied on Thursday to support the top UN expert on Palestinian rights, after the United States imposed sanctions on her over what it said was unfair criticism of Israel.

Italian lawyer Francesca Albanese serves as special rapporteur on human rights in the occupied Palestinian territories, one of dozens of experts appointed by the 47-member UN Human Rights Council to report on specific global issues.

She has long criticized Israeli treatment of the Palestinians, and this month published a report accusing over 60 companies, including some US firms, of supporting Israeli settlements in the West Bank and military actions in Gaza.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on Wednesday Albanese would be added to the US sanctions list for work which had prompted what he described as illegitimate prosecutions of Israelis at the International Criminal Court.

United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk urged Washington to reverse course.

"Even in the face of fierce disagreement, UN Member States should engage substantively and constructively, rather than resort to punitive measures," he said, Reuters reported.

Juerg Lauber, the Swiss permanent representative to the UN who now holds the rotating presidency of the Human Rights Council, said he regretted the sanctions, and called on states to "refrain from any acts of intimidation or reprisal" against the body's experts.

Mariana Katzarova, who serves as the special rapporteur for human rights in Russia, said her concern was that other countries would follow the US lead.

"This is totally unacceptable and opens the gates for any other government to do the same," she told Reuters. "It is an attack on UN system as a whole. Member states must stand up and denounce this."

Russia has rejected Katzarova's mandate and refused to let her enter the country, but it has so far stopped short of publicly adding her to a sanctions list.

Washington has already imposed sanctions against officials at the International Criminal Court, which has issued arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defense minister for suspected war crimes in Gaza. Another court, the International Court of Justice, is hearing a case brought by South Africa that accuses Israel of genocide.

Israel denies that its forces have carried out war crimes or genocide against Palestinians in the war in Gaza, which was precipitated by an attack by Hamas-led fighters in October 2023.

"The United States is working to dismantle the norms and institutions on which survivors of grave abuses rely," said Liz Evenson, international justice director at Human Rights Watch.

The group's former head, Kenneth Roth, called the US sanctions an attempt "to deter prosecution of Israeli war crimes and genocide in Gaza".

The United States, once one of the most active members of the Human Rights Council, has disengaged from it under President Donald Trump, alleging an anti-Israel bias.