This archive report was first published on 19 July 2019.
On July 17, 2019, Sudan's protest leaders and ruling generals agreed to a power sharing deal, but key issues remain unresolved. The two sides are set to meet again on Friday to discuss these issues.
The power sharing deal, which was inked on July 17, 2019, forms a joint ruling body tasked with creating a transitional civilian administration that would govern for just over three years. However, the generals have insisted that the five military figures who will be part of the new joint governing body be granted "absolute immunity" for violence against protesters during their rule.
Protest leaders have rejected this demand outright, suggesting a "temporary immunity" be offered that would be valid as long as the member is in service. "This kind of immunity represents a big problem... it contradicts even international laws as international laws don't offer immunity for war crimes or for violations of human rights," said leading Sudanese political analyst Faisal Mohamed Salih.
Another contentious issue is the role of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary group, which protesters and rights groups accuse of carrying out a brutal raid on a protest camp on June 3 that left dozens dead and hundreds wounded. RSF commander General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo has dismissed the accusations as an attempt to distort the image of his troops.
Protesters have increasingly called for a withdrawal of the RSF from the capital's streets, and Salih said this could be another focus in Friday's talks. "The RSF is a tribal militia and represents a threat to a democratic state," he said.
