This archive report was first published on 4 August 2019.
On August 4, 2019, Sudan took a significant step towards a civilian-led government as the country's army rulers and protest leaders signed a constitutional declaration.
The agreement, which was witnessed by African Union and Ethiopian mediators, builds on a landmark power-sharing deal signed on July 17 and provides for a joint civilian-military ruling body to oversee the formation of a transitional civilian government and parliament.
According to protest leader Monzer Abu al-Maali, a formal signing ceremony is scheduled to take place on August 17, the same day ousted president Omar al-Bashir is set to go on trial for corruption charges.
"Members of the ruling sovereign council will be announced on August 18, the prime minister will be named on August 20 and cabinet members on August 28," Abu al-Maali told AFP.
The deal marks a major breakthrough in the negotiations between the protest movement and the ruling generals, which had been repeatedly interrupted by deadly violence against demonstrators.
