Sudan deal signed after months of unrest

Sudan’s military and civilian leaders signed a landmark power-sharing deal at a joyous ceremony in the capital, Khartoum, on Saturday, signalling a new chapter in the life of the African country, which has been rocked by eight months of popular protests, a coup and a bloody military crackdown. Few Sudanese could have imagined only a year ago that Omar al-Bashir, their despised ruler of 30 years, would be languishing in Sudan’s most notorious prison awaiting a trial on corruption charges that is expected to start Monday. Street celebrations were held across the country Saturday. For many, the euphoria was tempered by the realities of the country’s economic collapse and the tough compromises of a power-sharing deal that ensures the military, led by some of al-Bashir’s closest deputies, will retain its grip on power.

The extent of the concessions agreed to by Sudan’s revolutionaries was evident at the ceremony Saturday when Lt. Gen. Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, a paramilitary commander whose forces led a brutal crackdown on protesters in central Khartoum on June 3, signed the agreement on behalf of the military junta.

Ahmed al-Rabia signed on behalf of the main opposition coalition, the Forces of Freedom and Change. Foreign dignitaries included the Ethiopian prime minister, Abiy Ahmed, who helped rescue the powersharing talks after a crackdown in June, in which at least 128 people were killed.