Sudan Intensifies Talks to Add More Signatories to Final Agreement

Protesters rally in Khartoum to demand civilian rule on March 14. (AFP)
Protesters rally in Khartoum to demand civilian rule on March 14. (AFP)
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Sudan Intensifies Talks to Add More Signatories to Final Agreement

Protesters rally in Khartoum to demand civilian rule on March 14. (AFP)
Protesters rally in Khartoum to demand civilian rule on March 14. (AFP)

The Sudanese military and civilian parties that signed the framework political agreement are scheduled to finish developing a full-fledged draft of the final political agreement on Wednesday after including the outcomes of the security and military reform workshop into the deal.

Army commanders, members of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), retired officers, experts in the security and military fields, and representatives of the civil forces took part in the Khartoum workshop for the third consecutive day.

The army and the Rapid Support Forces each presented during a paper on security and military reform.

All the workshop sessions are closed to the media because of the sensitivity of the security and military issues being discussed.

The political parties stated on their official Facebook page that the participants presented theoretical and practical proposals to reform the police and public intelligence services in line with the prospective democratic system.

The participants, including over 300 civilians and military personnel, are set to discuss the integration of the RSF, headed by the deputy head of the Sovereign Council, Mohammad Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti, into the unified army as agreed upon by all parties.

The workshop, sponsored by the Tripartite Mechanism and the Freedom and Change coalition, will conclude on Wednesday evening and then submit its recommendations to the final agreement drafting committee.

Meanwhile, the signatories of the political framework agreement continued their discussions with the opposing parties affiliated with the Democratic Bloc coalition to persuade them to join the political process and sign the final deal to establish a civil democratic transition.

Some armed movements, such as the Justice and Equality movement led by Gibril Ibrahim, the Sudan Liberation Army led by Minni Arko Minnawi, and a branch of the Democratic Unionist Party, led by Gaafar al-Mirghani, refuse to engage in the political process without the participation of the rest of the members of their bloc.

The final agreement is based on the Framework Agreement, the Political Declaration, and the recommendations of the five conferences. The recommendations are dismantling the regime of ousted president Omar al-Bashir, the “correction” of the Juba Peace Agreement, reaching a solution to the crisis in the eastern region, and achieving transitional justice, as well as the security and military reform workshop.

The agreement drafting committee delivered on Monday the initial draft of the final political agreement to the military and civilian parties in the presence of the Tripartite Mechanism.

The Tripartite Mechanism facilitates dialogue between Sudanese parties and consists of the African Union (AU), Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), and the UN.

Officials agreed on the final dates for the political process, starting with the signing of the final agreement on Apr. 1, the signing of the constitution on Apr. 6, and the formation of the institutions of the transitional authority on Apr. 11.



Islamabad: 50,000 Pakistanis Are Missing in Iraq

Every year, millions of Shiites flock to religious sites in Iraq’s Najaf and Karbala. (EPA)
Every year, millions of Shiites flock to religious sites in Iraq’s Najaf and Karbala. (EPA)
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Islamabad: 50,000 Pakistanis Are Missing in Iraq

Every year, millions of Shiites flock to religious sites in Iraq’s Najaf and Karbala. (EPA)
Every year, millions of Shiites flock to religious sites in Iraq’s Najaf and Karbala. (EPA)

Pakistan’s Minister of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Chaudhry Salik Hussain sparked controversy when he revealed that 50,000 Pakistanis have gone missing in Iraq over the years.

He urged the Baghdad government to immediately launch a probe into how the Pakistanis entered Iraq to visit religious sites during the month of Muharram, he was quoted as saying by Pakistan’s Ummat newspaper.

Islamabad is investigating how people have traveled outside Pakistan through illegal means, he remarked.

The permanent committee for religious affairs and interfaith harmony has since proposed new policies for trips to holy sites in foreign countries, including Iraq.

In Iraq, the minister’s comments drew mockery and condemnation on social media and sparked renewed debate over illegal workers in the country.

Politician Mishaan al-Juburi urged the government to make a statement over Hussain’s comments, warning that they may impact security and the labor force.

Hussain’s comments coincided with Iraqi police announcing the arrest of six Pakistanis in Baghdad on charges of theft.

Previously, military intelligence also announced the arrest of a nine-member Pakistani kidnapping and extortion gang in Baghdad. The gang had kidnapped foreigners for ransom.

Meanwhile, Labor Minister Ahmed al-Asadi expressed his concern and condemnation over the increasing number of illegal workers in Iraq.

He said his ministry will investigate the disappearance of the Pakistanis.

He confirmed that several tourists, including Pakistanis, have flocked to Iraq in recent days, and many have taken up employment without the necessary legal permits.

He warned that this phenomenon is negatively impacting the national economy.

The ministry will not be lenient in taking the necessary legal measures against the violators, he vowed.

Iraq welcomes all tourists, whether they are here on a religious visit or otherwise, but they must respect local laws and regulations, declared Asadi.

Every year, millions of Shiites flock to religious sites in Iraq’s Najaf and Karbala.