On Monday, August 31, the Sudanese government and the Sudan Revolutionary Front (SRF), the country’s main rebel alliance agreed to sign what was called a historic peace deal in Juba, capital city of South Sudan. The agreement was also done in the presence of President Salva Kiir, of South Sudan, including other high ranked officials such as General Abdel Fattah al-Burhane, who chairs the Sovereign Council at the head of Sudan, as well as Sudanese Prime Minister Abdullah Hamdok. So far, a number of countries have welcomed the move, citing that it acts as a first step in rebuilding stability in the country. It is an important step in restoring security, dignity, and development to the population of Sudans conflict-affected and marginalized areas. We believe the formal agreement must be followed up with local peace and reconciliation efforts in the conflict-affected areas, the United States, United Kingdom and Norway wrote in a joint statement. Below are the 5 key highlights: An end to the 17-year war in Sudan The historic peace agreement, according to Faisal Mohamed Saleh, Minister of Information and Culture is expected to bring an end to a 17-year war in Sudan particularly in Darfur where hundreds of people have been killed. Since 2003, statistics indicate that more than 300,000 people are estimated to have been killed and 2.5 million displaced. The deal sparks hope of an end to fighting, between the two parties, says Saleh. Hold out factions According to local media reports, Abdelaziz Al-Hilu, leader of one of the holdouts, wants Sudan, whose law is founded on Islam, to be a secular state. Nationally, the rebel signatories will get three seats on the ruling council, five ministries, and a quarter of the 300 seats on the transitional legislative council between them, says Saleh. Additionally, Saleh pointed out, the rebel alliance gets 40 per cent of posts in their regional governments, which will receive 40 per cent of locally raised revenues, and a new fund will pay $750 million US a year for 10 years to impoverished southern and western regions. A joint force to protect civilians Under the deal, the insurgents and government troops will form a joint military force of 12,000 personnel within 90 days to protect Darfur’s civilians, leading to full integration within 40 months. Rebels are promised three posts in the government’s expanded 14-seat Sovereign Council. That is the most powerful part of the transitional government. They are also promised a quarter of roles in cabinet, and a similar proportion of seats in the legislative assembly. Power-sharing government In the deal, according to official news agency SUNA, the two parties agreed to a power-sharing deal with the military. This means that Sudan is to hold its first democratic election in 2022. Joy after the deal was signed Leaders of the Sudan Revolutionary Front (SRF), an organisation of rebel groups from the western region of Darfur and the southern states of South Kordofan and Blue Nile, raised their fists in celebration after inking the agreement. Conflict in South Kordofan and Blue Nile erupted in 2011, in the wake of South Sudans independence, resuming two decades of war. “It is a great success. We believe that we have thus begun the real transformation of Sudan because we are now joined by armed movements of people from all regions of Sudan” Information and Culture Minister, Saleh said.
