Deal paves way for transitional government after overthrow of long-time leader Omar al-Bashir

This article is more than 1 year old

This article is more than 1 year old

Sudan’s main opposition coalition and the ruling military council have signed a final power-sharing agreement, paving the way for a transitional government after the overthrow of long-time leader Omar al-Bashir.

Stability in Sudan, which has been grappling with an economic crisis, is seen as crucial for a volatile region struggling with conflict and insurgencies from the Horn of Africa to Egypt and Libya.

The Transitional Military Council (TMC) has ruled Sudan since April, when the military ousted Bashir after months of protests against his rule during which dozens of demonstrators were killed.

Bashir is wanted for war crimes in Sudan’s Darfur region by the international criminal court and is awaiting trial on corruption charges.

The council and the main opposition alliance, known as the Forces of Freedom and Change (FFC), have been negotiating the power-sharing deal for months.

One of Sudan’s top generals, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, who is deputy head of the military council, and FFC representative Ahmed al-Rabie had initialed the agreement on 4 August and were the main signatories on Saturday.

Regional and international dignitaries including the Ethiopian prime minister, Abiy Ahmed, and the South Sudanese president, Salva Kiir, were present.